Essay on An Argument for Gun Control - 2441 Words

America is the most well armed nation in the world, with American citizens owning about 270 million of the world’s 875 million firearms (Marshall). Indeed, this is more than a quarter of the world’s registered firearms. The reason why Americans own so many guns is because of the Second Amendment, which states, â€Å"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.† (Rauch) This amendment guarantees U.S. citizens the right to have firearms. Since this amendment is relatively vague, it is up for interpretation, and is often used by gun advocates to argue for lenient gun laws. Hence, gun control is a frequently discussed controversial topic in†¦show more content†¦Unlike the colonists of the 1700s, the modern citizen simply has no need for firearms. During the Revolutionary War period, colonists viewed the right to bear arms as a natural right, and rightfully so. They faced legitimate dangers such as a tyrannical British rule, Native Americans, and wild animals. Hence, the Founding Fathers included in the Constitution the right to own firearms in 1791 (Brown). The colonists needed firearms to actively defend themselves against these dangers and eventually overthrow their British oppressors. Furthermore, it made sense for colonists to be armed because the colonial militias were composed of volunteer minutemen. These soldiers had to be quick to act and transform from a civilian to a soldier within minutes, which is where the term originates. Interestingly, immediately after the British were defeated by the colonists, we see an immediate abuse of the right to bear arms in Shays Rebellion, where an unruly group of farmers in economic crisis tried to hijack a militia armory (Shay’s Rebellion). Shays Rebellion is evidence that the right to bear arms is not always a good idea, especially during times of peace without clear and present dangers. In relation to modern times, there is no justifiable reason to possess arms; we do not face dangers such as a tyrannical oppressor, Native Americans, or wild animals. We live in arguably one of the safestShow MoreRelatedGun Control Argument798 Words   |  4 PagesGun Control The gun control debate in the US is often contentious and politically divisive. And with upcoming elections always looming in the near future, we will continue hearing a great deal from the media as well as politicians about what should or should not be done about â€Å"too many guns† in our society. Unfortunately, too many Americans do not take time to truly understand the issues and the reasoning behind both sides of the controversy. To help get a clearer perspective of the problem, thereRead MoreAn Argument For Gun Control1204 Words   |  5 Pages AN ARGUMENT FOR GUN CONTROL USAACE NCOA SSG Teddy J. Lopez 15Z SLC 17-003 SFC Maridol Although the Second Amendment stops the federal government from entirely banning guns in America, limited restrictions are permitted on the possession and distribution of firearms. The ease of obtaining a firearm in America fosters a dangerousRead MoreThe Arguments Against Gun Control Essay1207 Words   |  5 Pagesfocus on the arguments against and for gun control? Gun control is a controversial topic in the United States. Therefore, the arguments against gun control are whether or not there is gun control law, and people still can find firearms from some illegal place. Second, the 2nd Amendment’s allows people have the rights to own guns for self-defense. Third, my friend gives me detailed explanation about why he likes to own a gun. On the other hand, I also research some arguments for gun control. People whoRead MoreThe Argument Against Gun Control Essay1141 Words   |  5 Pagesthis paper, I consider the topic of gun control. First, I present Dixon’s argument in support of gun control, which is that all personal guns should be banned. Second, I introduce Huemer’s argument against the regulation of guns, which is that banning personal firearms is not justified. Third, I critique Huemer’s argument against gun control on the grounds of three claims. First, the right to own a gun is nullified by its negative repercussions. Second, gun control does not violate an individual’s rightRead MoreAnti Gun Control Argument1366 Words   |  6 PagesGun rights and gun control are always hot items during any political discussion, whether it is between peers or politicians. One of the many great advantages to being an American is the ability to choose for ones own self what to believe in, another advantage, in my opinion, is the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It is my intention over the next several pages to make you aware of my point of view on the issue of gun rights. I will bring up arguments for gun rights and against g un controlRead MoreArgument Paper On Gun Control1354 Words   |  6 PagesPosition Paper on Gun Control While Americans were contemplating gun control proposals in the wake of mass shootings at a Colorado School, another gunman massacred 50 people in a club in Orlando. This incident brought heated political exchanges between President Obama and Trump, the Republican presidential candidate. It is estimated that in 2015 alone, there were more than 351 mass shootings in the United States. This is a worrying trend that should be reversed as soon as possible. SurprisinglyRead MoreGun Control Argument paper1449 Words   |  6 Pagesthe saying, â€Å"Guns don’t kill people, people kill people,† then on December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza, fatally shot twenty children and six adult staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the small town of Newtown, Connecticut. Ever since this tragic day, there has been a large push for gun control in the US, led by President Obama. The bills that are before Congress would make penalties for buying guns illegally more onerous, address traffick ing, and greatly expand the number of gun sales coveredRead MoreArguments for Gun Control Essay995 Words   |  4 PagesApril 16, 2007 an undeserving wretched individual took the life of Mary Read along with 31 others. By the means of a gun, she was gone. When tragedy such as this occurs we must open our eyes to the complacency of society and its laws. The lack of controls has led to irresponsible and evil actions. As a student myself and a concerned mother, wife, citizen I declare gun control in this country is an absolute must! There are currently too many armed citizens running around. Armed citizens alwaysRead MoreArgument Against Gun Control1340 Words   |  6 Pages Final Paper: Argument Against Gun Control The argument on firearm regulation has been a heated discussion for many years. On one side of the debate, we have people in favor placing restrictions on guns, while, on the opposite end of the spectrum, we have people fighting the regulation of guns. People in favor gun restrictions believe gun control can reduce crime ,while, the people against gun control believe having the right toRead MoreGun Control Argument Essay757 Words   |  4 PagesIn my argument essay I chose gun control as my topic. Gun control refers to the debate on whether or not there should be laws against guns. It was a bad idea to choose this topic for many reasons. One reason it was stupid is because I could not decide which side of the debate I wanted to agree with, and which side I wanted to oppose. It confused me a few times because I would agree with the side I was supposed to be against. I constantly had to rewrite half of a paragraph because my argument did not

Essay on Evolution Embedded in Symbols - 2727 Words

Evolution Embedded in Symbols Two billion years ago two prokaryotes bumped into each other and formed the first multi-cellular organism. 65 million years ago an asteroid hit the earth and dinosaurs became extinct. Three days ago, in your notebook you drew a mess of squiggles which to you represented Jackson Pollocks painting, Number 1, 1948. You wrote the word entropy on the upper left hand corner of the page. On the bottom right hand side you wrote, Creativity is based on randomness and chance. This paper is, in part, an exploration of the pictures and words that we place in notebooks; it is an investigation of the human fixation with the creation of symbols via art and writing. But is also about how the symbols drawn in ones†¦show more content†¦In her book, On Beauty and Being Just, Elaine Scarry states that beauty incites replication (4). Like a history of evolution, a history of human symbolic representation is heavily dependent on the act of reproduction. This reproduction has manifested itself quite literally. For example, when a painter finds something in nature to be beautiful, she can reproduce it on the canvas and when a writer finds a moment to be inspiring, she can transcribe the moment into a set of instructions [i.e. words] about how [a reader] can imagine or construct [that moment] (Dreaming by the Book, Scarry, 6). Like sexual reproduction which allows organisms to share their genetic material in order to continue species and to create new organisms , pictures and words help with a lateral transfer of cultural information, its continuance and recombination. To create a symbol of something with a string of words or with an art material is to perpetuate that which is beautiful for future generations. According to Dennett, before there were words, there were no word meanings, even if there were other sorts of meanings. (402) Dennetts hypothesis reminds us, at the most basic level that symbols mean something. To say that there are only a couple of meanings behind all artwork and writing would be to deny the complexity of the human symbol-making andShow MoreRelatedEvaluate the Arguments, Presented in the Course, Supporting Chomsky’s Claim That Humans Are Innately Predisposed to Acquire Language, Discussing Specifically What It Might Mean for Humans to Be ‘Innately Predisposed to1356 Words   |  6 Pagesthrough interaction with presented experience’’ (Chomsky, 1985,p. 5) The extent of detail in the structure of human language does suggest that maybe an ability to learn language is genetically embedded, as opposed to language being learnt as one develops. However, Chomsky does not take into consideration evolution as a possible threat to his claim of human s being innately predisposed to acquire language. 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Mathematics of Ballet free essay sample

There is much more to the arabesque, grand jete, and fouette than just hours of practice and strong toes. Dancers do not often understand the physics and mathematics describing their movements, but they know how to execute them with grace. If ballerinas were not able to feel physics, they would fall over. Legs, arms and head are oscillating as they turn– moving back and forth in seemingly separate patterns. For dancers, everything must move in separate patterns, yet at the same time, move at the same rhythm. This presentation introduces the history, mathematics, and physics behind ballet. Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts during the 15th century. Noblemen and women attended special events, such as wedding celebrations, where dancing and music were considered an elaborate spectacle. Dancing masters taught the steps to the nobility and the court participated in the performances. In the 16th century, Catherine de Medici, an Italian noblewoman and the wife of King Henry II of France, funded ballet within the French Court. A century later, King Louis XIV helped to popularize and standardize ballet. In 1661, the first dance academy opened in Paris and ballet moved from the courts to the stage. The French opera created the opera-ballet tradition in France. During the mid-1700s, a French ballet master, Georges Noverre, rebelled against the opera-ballet because he believed that ballet could stand as its own art form. This led to the establishment of a dramatic style of ballet that conveys a narrative story. In the late 18th century, the popularity of ballet increased in Russia, where classical ballet was represented in its most classical form: Marius Petipa’s The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty, were composed. The main purpose of classical ballet was to display technique to its fullest— pointe work, high extensions, precision of movement, and turn-out (the outward rotation of the legs from the hip) are included. Demanding leaps, steps, and turns were choreographed into the story. During the Romantic Movement in the start of the 19th century, ballet was influenced by spirits, magic, and fragility; henceforth, the romantic ballets were established. During the Romantic Era, en pointe, dancing on the tips of toes, became the norm for ballerinas, and the â€Å"tutu,† a skirt made of tulle, was introduced. Later on in the 19th century, New York City Ballet founder, George Balanchine, a Russian who immigrated to America, introduced what is now known as the neo-classical ballet. This is a form that expands the classical form. Balanchine is considered to be one of the greatest innovators of the â€Å"plot-less† contemporary ballet: without a definite story line, its purpose is to use movement to express the music, and to illuminate human emotion and endeavor. Today, ballet is multi-faceted: classical forms, traditional stories, and contemporary innovations intertwine to produce the character of a modern ballet. Physics and mathematics are found in every aspect of dance. First, it is important to understand that the net force (Fnet) involves the addition of applied forces. The net force causes a change in an object’s momentum. For example, the net force on a dancer is the force of gravity acting down, the force from the support of the floor acting upon, and the sideways force of the friction from the floor. A torque in physics is an off-center force that causes something to spin. Also, the torque can change angular momentum of an object. In dance, it should be understood that the greater the force, the more quickly a dancer can spin. Torques are further generated from the spin-axis, which causes the dancer to spin more quickly. The longer a torque is activated, the greater the total change in angular momentum. This is expressed through the equation: ? L= t. If a torque is not applied to a rigid object, or a solid body of finite size, it spins at a constant rate. Its spin-axis does not wobble. Non-rigid objects, like people or dancers, constantly change shape and are more complicated. A dancer’s rotational inertia (I) changes with time (t). Static balance occurs when both the net force and net torque equal zero. Static balance is the point of center of gravity at which an object, like a dancer, has the ability to balance. All of the forces acting upon a balanced dancer sum to equal zero. A dancers center of gravity must remain directly above the area of contact with the floor; otherwise, he or she will fall over. Smaller floor contact area, like en pointe, for example, makes balance more difficult. Maintaining such balance involves constant shifts and adjustments of the body. The net effect of gravity on a dancer is the same as if it were only acting upon the center of gravity, and not on all parts of the body. Forces on a balanced dancer like gravity (pulls down, acts upon center of gravity) and the support from floor (pushes up, acts upon feet) equal zero. Both forces act through the center of gravity, and so, the dancer’s torque also equals zero. Not only must a dancer balance, but a dancer must also balance while turning. Not all statically balanced dance positions can be held while turning. Centrifugal forces exert a torque, which throws the dancer off balance, or off of his or her center of gravity. A shift in the center of gravity must occur in order to maintain dynamic, yet not static, balance. If a torque is not applied, then the angular momentum (L) is constant. If the rotational inertia (I) is decreased, then the angular velocity (? ) must increase, or spin faster. If the rotational inertia (I) is increased, then the angular velocity must decrease, or spin slower. Rotational inertia is an object’s resistance to its rotation. Through calculations, it is proven that the greater the mass of an object, the greater the rotational inertia. When mass is distributed farther from its rotational axis, there is a larger rotational inertia. The equation, I=mr2, represents how increasing the rotational inertia will decrease the rate at which a dancer spins. The Conservation of Angular Momentum explains how a dancer is able to change the speed of a turn when en pointe by extending or retracting his or her leg. Friction between the floor and a dancer’s foot can generate a torque. Dancers turn and spin on stage; however, dancers must also perform turning movements in the air. In certain movements, the body parts which carry the initial angular momentum change during the course of the turn. For example, during a tour jete, the angular momentum associated with the raising of the left leg (1) is taken up by the trunk and arms (2), then the left leg (3), then both legs (4). Refer to the picture below. Jumps are essential movements in the world of ballet. Gravitational force depends on mass. The greater the mass, the greater the gravitational pull. Also, momentum depends on mass. The greater the mass, the harder it is to stop moving at a particular speed (p=mv). Doubling an object’s mass will double its momentum and double the strength of its gravitational force. This is proved through the equation, ? p = m? v = F? t. On the other hand, gravitational acceleration is independent of mass. The relationship between the position of a dancers center of gravity and the time during a jump is expressed. The force of gravity influences the vertical component of motion, not the horizontal: Additionally, the relationship between the height of a jump (h) and time (t) is expressed through a parabolic function. The relationship between the horizontal distance (d) and time (t) is represented through a linear, straight line: The dancers trajectory in a jump is also a parabola: By raising his or her legs, which changes the distance between the center of gravity and the dancer’s head, he or she can create the illusion of floating. The vertical motion of the head is less than the motion of the center of gravity. Mathematics Physics is a study of science that uses math. From simple geometry to advanced calculus, mathematics is present in the physics of ballet. Kinematics, a branch of mechanics in relation to motion of objects, is present in almost every aspect of ballet. A derivative (dy/dx) is a rate of change with respect to x and y. For objects in motion, like dancers, specific movement is related to the essential topic of calculus, which is the derivative. A dancer’s velocity (v) is the first derivative (? ) of his or her position (s), with respect to time (t). A dancer’s acceleration (a) is the second derivative (? ) of his or her position (s) with respect to time (t) or the first derivative (? ) of his or her velocity (v). Conclusion The elements of physics and mathematics are in use whether a dancer is balancing, spinning, jumping, or just standing still. Force, velocity, momentum, rotational inertia, static balance, and torques are specific variables that are utilized in the every aspect of ballet.