Gun control has been a persistent debate for at least half a century in US, beginning with the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the recent shooting and killing of children and adults in Newtown, Connecticut. In that period one of the most effective legislation was the bill proposed by President Bill Clinton and passed by Congress in 1994 which restricted certain kinds of assault weapons and created a national system of background checks for gun purchases.
However, the National Rifle Association (NRA) with its 4.3 million members has continuously campaigned against any restrictions on gun ownership and NRA president has recently claimed that we need more guns and even armed guards in schools.
So in tonight’s debate we’ll explore some of the following questions:
- Is gun ownership a question of civil liberties?
- Does gun ownership lead to violence?
- Do we need more guns to ensure our safety? What is the limit?
- In a civilized society where most threats are symbolic threats, do we really need guns to protect ourselves?
- Are they for our protection? If yes, why do we need such a protection?
- Doesn’t the idea that we need guns to protect ourselves lead to increased arming of population and greater violence?
- Do we need greater circulation of guns and other firearms or greater education and sense of civil rights and mutual respect?
- What are the implications of these for civil liberties? for society? and practitioners/professionals?
Join us and share your views and experiences regarding these and other relevant questions @SWSCmedia today 8:00 PM EST / 5:00 PM PST.
