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Murder is committed more frequently in the United States than any other country in the world and guns are the primary weapon. Guns are the leading cause of death for African-American males between the ages of 14-25. Crimes in the United States are more likely to lead to death. Every two and a half years firearms kill as many A mericans as the Vietnam War did. There are a few people who believe that purging the population from all guns would not reduce the firearm fatality rate. The United States' 230 million firearms are protected by the second amendment and that means that the guns would remain in civlian possession for quite some time. Lawmakers have recently tried to put more guns in the possession of people who obey the laws and less in the possession of criminals. More and more states have been passing laws making it easy for residents to carry concealed firearms.

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After hearing about the Virginia Tech massacre people were in shock and outrage which was followed by some reflection on what we might have done to prevent the loss of innocent lives. Some people also feel that pro-gun laws may have deterred the shooter. Many people also question what might have happened if one student or faculty member would have been armed and trained with the used of a weapon in self-defense. Many people also wonder would that have made a difference?

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Gun-rights advocates want to make it easier for people to use self-defense in that kind of situation. "Stand your ground measures" remove criminal charges and civil liabilites for people who shoot down an attacker. Ten states this year have passed a version of a self-defense law. The laws broadening self-defense is removing the requirement the "duty to retreat" before the use of deadly force. The laws specify that people have the right to use deadly force if they believe they are in danger and if they have the legal right to use it in that place.

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Many people feel that a person's home is their castle and that property owners should have the right to shoot anyone who breaks into their occupied building. The Texas Senate and House approved legislation describing the law which could become effective September 1st. Advocates of the castle doctrine want to extend the right to vehicles and businesses. Prosecutors are worried that changes could make a case where someone filed a false self-defense claim impossible to win.

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Self-Defense use of guns by victims of crime are more common than crimes committed with guns. The ownership of a gun and the defensive use of a gun is more likely to prevent violent crimes and reduces burglary related injuries. If a victim has a gun they are more likely to protect themsleves from robbery or assualt. Criminals see victims with a gun as a risky target. The author feels that gun ownership is a nice addition to the police and other safety and securty measures like a burglar alarm. Victims who possess a gun gives them more options for security and safety. The author feels that a world with no guns would actually be less safe than world where victims had guns and criminals did not. If owning a gun reduces criminal activity than taking guns away would be a serious issue.

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This article talks about what might have happenened at Virginia Tech if a student or teacher would have been legally armed that day but since the school is a gun-free zone anyway only the killer was armed resulting in the murder of thirty-two people. This article also states how a principle in Arkansas stopped a shooter in the school with his firearm which was in his vehicle since the school was firearms-free zone. This article gives another example of when a shooter at a school was stopped by two students who legally could conceal and carry firearms but the school was a gun-free zone so they had to go to their vehicles resulting in the loss of time.

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This article talks about how us Americnas do not need more gun-control but we need more self-control. It also talks about what might have happened if some one like a teacher or student may have been armed with a gun and what could have happened at Virginaia Tech then. the article also states that since the Cho Seung-Hui killed all those people with a gun now gun-control advocates are going to shout out for more gun control but would it have been any different if he had blown himself up killing others would people cry out for more bomb control. It also talks about how we can not control the evil on the outside but we need to control the evil on the inside beecause that is where it prevails.

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Researchers think that half of America's households posses guns today. The ratio of handguns to all guns in the household is rising because of their small size. The asssumption is that these handguns are for self-defense. Guns are the leading cause of deaths for African American males between the agees of 14 to 25 years old. Advocates think that these self-defense laws will put fewer guns in the hands of criminals and more in the hands of law abiding citizens. Gun-control advocates also argue that by allowing citizens to own guns they are subjected to more violent actions. Some gun-control advocates argue that armed citizens do not decrease the number of firearms-related deaths. Self-defense advocates argue that America does not have a gun problem it has a problem with lethal violence.

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Increasing numbers of women are buying handguns to protect themselves. Many women are starting to buy handguns because they feel safer when owning a gun . A lot of women also conceal guns in their purses or in a holster even when it is ilegal to carry a concealed a weapon. A 1986 study in the New England Journal of medicine concludes a gun is more likely to cause a death of a household memeber than an attacker. Successful self-defense uses of guns are not as rare as anti-gun groups suggest. Florida State Universtiy professor suggests that one millon people use a gun for self defense every year. Civilians use guns just as often to protect themselves as often as criminals use them to commit crimes. Domestic homicides and childhood accidents are the least common of gunshot deaths.

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in this article a couple had to use deadly force and killed an ex-boyfriend who was threatening to kill them. They feel grief and remorse but they had to do what they had to do. The fact that they used deadly force has put a strain on their relationship and they have resorted to sleeping pills to get to sleep at night. They are not glad that this is what it came too but if they would not have used deadly force the ex-boyfriend would have killed them. The couple have bad memories about the incident and hopes that it doesn't screw up their relationship. This incident also worries the mom because she will have to explain to her son that his dad was killed by them.

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In Texas they are trying to get a law passed that will allow people to use deadly force in their castle metaphorically speaking which means that a person will be allowed to use deadly force in their car, house, and place of buisness. Advocates of this law would want to have this deadly force law extended to a person's car and workplace. Advocates want to remove the duty to retreat law. This law would require judges and juries to assume a person is justified in using deadly force. The deadly force bill has been carefully made to prevent the wrong people from taking advatngae of it. This law would also protect those who used deadly force from injured attackers or or their families. Gun-Control advocates fear that this law may lead to an increase in wrongful deaths or accidents. The police in Texas also say that the bill will not change the way they conduct their investigations.

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This article talks about whether states should pass laws allowing people to use deadly force instead of retreating from a violent attacker. If these laws were passed it would allow people to use deadly force without the burdens of civil liabilities and possible criminal charges. This article also states that some states have passed laws allowing the use of deadly force some of these states are Arizona, South Dakota, and Florida. Some argue that if we passed a law allowing the use of deadly force it would increase violence and others argue that it would decrease violence. Many also think that criminals will benefit from from a type of law like this because defense attorneys could seek acquittals in some criminal cases.