Wr 20 Essay 3

Essay 3 is on guns and violence & fist Stick knife gun by Geoff Canada.
Writing 20 Tim Fitzmaurice Essay Draft Due February 12.

Geoffrey Canada in his book Fist Stick Knife Gun describes the impact of a violent neighborhood on children. He suggests many solutions for these problems. One of his primary focuses is on handguns. He discusses this issue at length, for example in chapters 17 & 22, and he suggests on page 164 that we reduce and regulate handguns. He says

I believe all handgun sales should be banned in this country. The argument made by some that second amendment was passed so Americans could own weapons is a specious one. The Second Amendment reads a “Well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” The militia, not individual citizens, is the subject of the Second Amendment. We as citizens in this country should have aright not to be killed by other citizens who own guns. (165)

On the other hand, many believe the constitution guarantees our right to own guns of any kind, for self-defense or any other purpose. Roger Koopman, in “Second Defense,” says

If we are going to start winning these battles (for gun ownership) and regaining ground already lost, we must start framing the so-called “gun issues” in constitutional terms and show how every citizen has a stake in the outcome.
[This handout will be given to you next week in class. ]

How do we solve this problem? Should any person have the right to own any gun? Should we control the possession and sale of handguns and other weapons? Maybe we should just control larger assault and automatic weapons. Or maybe you think the second Amendment gives everyone the right to own any gun they want. Since we have to be realistic, Canada does make suggestions about steps that fall short of a complete ban. In his book, Canada suggests several approaches like licensing guns, requiring insurance, marking ammo with an i.d. and buying back old guns (cf. 164-166). Should we have age limits, limits based on criminal record or mental health? Can we create a solution that works and do you see the need for this? As Koopman says, everyone “has a stake in the outcome.” In your essay be sure to use Canada and your own experience and observations to describe what the problem is. You can also use essays from our other text. But absolutely no web sources.

For Wednesday February 3rd Read Canada’s book
Assigned: two-page response to Canada’s Chapter 4. We will look very closely at the rhetorical strategies in Canada’s book, his use of fact, of logic, and of narrative to make arguments, how it shifts from part to part of the book, taking on a decidedly more political intention in the last section. The sections of the book seem to grow up rhetorically, the early portions—about his early childhood experiences are less logically arranged than the middle or later sections. More theoretical as he grows older.
If you missed class Friday please write a response to both Chapter 4 and to chapter 3. Thank you.