Gun Control: Preventing Violence or Crushing Constitutional Rights? (USA TODAY's Debate: Voices and Perspectives)

Doeden, Matt

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8 ratings by Goodreads

9780761364337: Gun Control: Preventing Violence or Crushing Constitutional Rights? (USA TODAY's Debate: Voices and Perspectives)

ISBN 10: 0761364331 ISBN 13: 9780761364337

Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books, 2011

Americans are sharply divided on the issue of gun control. Some people believe that inadequate gun laws make the United States a dangerous place. They believe that stricter laws could keep guns away from children, criminals, and people with serious mental illness. Gun-control supporters say that reducing the number of guns in society also reduces the number of gun deaths.

Other people strongly disagree. They believe that the shooters―not their guns―are to blame for gun-related deaths. Gun-rights activists argue that most gun owners are law-abiding citizens who actually prevent crime. They point out that existing gun laws strip Americans’ basic rights while failing to keep guns away from dangerous people.

Making sense of the gun-control debate involves looking at the facts, studying the statistics, examining the laws, and listening to views on both sides. It also means asking tough questions:

� Where do we draw the line between acceptable self-defense and excessive protection?
� When should a person have to forfeit his or her gun rights? Is it ever OK for the government to restrict gun rights?
� Should Americans be able to own any and all arms? Or should the government control which weapons are allowed?
� Do background checks slow the flow of guns to people who shouldn't have them? Or are they useless invasions of privacy?
� How can the government balance individual rights and the safety of society?

To answer these questions, this book examines the history of U.S. gun ownership as well as current federal, state, and local laws. It provides the opinions and perspectives of government leaders, historians, activists, and ordinary Americans on both sides of the issue. Supplemented with quotes, anecdotes, and discussions from the pages of USA TODAY, The Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, this book will broaden your understanding of all sides of the issue and help you form your own opinion, either for or against gun control.

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About the Author:

Matt Doeden began his career as a sports writer. Since then, he's spent more than a decade writing and editing children's nonfiction. Matt lives in Minnesota with his family.

Review:

"In the USA Today's Debate: Voices and Perspectives series, hot topics are sure to invite passionate discussion on all sides, especially since the arguments pro and con are rooted in today's headlines even as they hearken back to the Constitution and landmark historical events. Gun Control begins with the 2011 shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords that rekindled the debate about the Second Amendment: Where should the government draw the line between individual rights and public safety? Do guns in society make us safer or put us in danger? With the discussion of past events, including Columbine and the assassinations of President Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one major question emerges about changing gun technology: Is the Second Amendment outdated? With many full-color photos of happy gay families, Same-Sex Marriage debates marriage as a civil right and a religious issue, going back through the history of the gay rights struggle, including arguments against from conservative Christians, and making connections with the changing roles of men and women, as well as the significant legal benefits of marriage and adoption. Drawing heavily on USA Today's accessible journalism, the highly readable format, with clear type, photos, and screened quotes, includes chapter notes, a bibliography, annotated websites, and organizations to contact for more information." --Booklist

(Journal)

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