Banning Guns

SP: I want to actuate you to support banning guns

Thesis: We should oppose gun ownership because guns are a weapon of violence and they increase the number of children who die each year which in turn makes people blind to the fact they are killing their own children.

Introduction: Question: How many of you think guns are necessary to protect yourself? Would you feel the same way if you knew how often guns kill children? I don't think so! Magazines usually tell people how beautiful and powerful guns are, and never mention how many children get hurt by guns everyday. But I am here to ask all of you to oppose gun ownership because the fact is that guns are a weapon of violence, they take more lives away every year, and they make people blind to the fact they are killing their own children.

I. Reason one: Having guns around the house creates the opportunity for lethal violence.

A. People with guns who have unstable feelings or tempers can lead to violent consequences

very easily.

1. My experience in a Chinese restaurant. (Explain)

2. A friend of my father shot his wife because of a simple argument.

II. Reason two: Guns pose such a significant risk to children.

A. Thousands of children dying by the gunfire each year.

1. Statistic: Eight children every day; and more than 50 children every week were killed

by the gunfire. And every year, at least 4 to 5 times as many kids and teens suffer

from non-fatal firearm injuries.

(Children's Defense Fund and National Center for Health Statistics)

2. Do we really need guns in our society?

B. The rate of firearm deaths of children 0-14 years old is nearly twelve times higher in the U.S.

than in 25 other developed nations combined.

1. Statistic: In one year, firearms killed no children in Japan, 19 in Great Britain,

57 in Germany, 109 in France, 153 in Canada, and 5,285 in the United States.

(National Center for Health Statistics, 1997)

2. According to a study led by Matthew Miller found that in states where more

guns are available, children are more likely to be victims of firearm- related deaths.

a. Children aged 5 to 14 living in one of the five high-gun states were twice

as likely to commit suicide

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