Exploring the Second Amendment: A Research Proposal on Gun Violence

This research proposal explores the ongoing debate surrounding the Second Amendment and gun violence in the United States. The student expresses concern about government efforts to limit gun ownership and proposes an investigation into alternative strategies for reducing gun violence, referencing the Swiss model of gun control as a potential comparison. The proposal outlines key research questions, including the role of gun ownership in citizen protection and the effectiveness of various gun control measures. It also includes an annotated bibliography of relevant sources, such as articles examining the Second Amendment, gun violence statistics, and international perspectives on gun control. The student aims to analyze the complexities of the issue, considering arguments for and against gun ownership and exploring strategies to minimize gun-related deaths and violence in the U.S.

Surname 1
Name:
Instructor:
Course:
Date:
Research Proposal: Second Amendment
1. In "Why Do We Need the Second Amendment?" Megan Parker argues that in America,
gun violence remains an issue, however, the solution is not to eliminate the guns because
people possess the right to bear guns for their protection.
2. The argument interests me because as an American citizen, I remain concerned about the
government objective to eliminate guns and prohibit the citizens to bear arms. I believe
that there exist other effective strategies of decreasing gun violence in the U.S apart from
banning guns. My readers residing in the U.S. may be equally questioning the move by
the government considering that other states such as Switzerland possess limited cases of
gun violence but most of their citizens bear arms for protection.
3. Why should the government prohibit the citizens in bearing guns? What other strategies
can be used to minimize gun violence? Are citizens safe without guns?
4. 4.1. Most people believe that owning a gun remains a protective measure
4.2. Others think that owning firearms increases the rate of gun violence
4.3. Some individuals claim that guns enhance their protection against oppressive
authorities and criminals
5. See the attached works cited

Surname 2
Annotated Works Cited
Bachmann, H. “The Swiss Difference: A Gun Culture that Works." Times. Web. 9 November 2018
< http://world.time.com/2012/12/20/the-swiss-difference-a-gun-culture-that-works/>
The author says that guns remain important in the neutral state "Switzerland" with citizens
considering sharpshooting as a wholesome and fun activity for individuals of all ages. The author
states that gun ownership in Switzerland is based on national identity as well as a sense of
patriotic duty. Despite the high rates of firearm ownership, the rates of gun-related deaths and
crimes remain low due to their safety, disciplined, and responsible culture passed on to the
generations. The information will assist me in arguing that the Second Amendment remains
important in America and that other strategies such as responsibility, safety, and discipline among
others, can help the nation to decrease the gun-related violence and deaths.
Elvin, Ron. “Repeal the Second Amendment? That’s Not So Simple. Here’s What It Would Take.” Npr,
2018.
< https://www.npr.org/2018/03/01/589397317/repeal-the-second-amendment-thats-not-so-simple-here-s-
what-it-would-take>
Elvin observes that after seventeen people were murdered in a school shooting at Parkland, the
Second Amendment has introduced a debate. The Amendment states that “A properly-regulated
militia, being important for a Free State security, the people’s right to bear and keep arms, shall
not remain infringed.” Heller made the statement clear by claiming that the amendment stated
that people possessed the right to bear arms for lawful reasons making any move to ban arms
impossible. However, after the Parkland incident, a new movement has emerged to prohibit
owning guns. I will the information to discuss the increasing violence in the US and why some
people support the banning of firearms.
Mann, J., Christina, M. and Michel, B. “Prevention of Firearms Suicide in the United States: What Works
and What is Impossible." Am J Psychiatry 173:10, October 2016. Web. 9 November 2018
< https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.16010069>

Surname 3
The authors conducted a study by evaluating evidence internationally on the connection between
rates of firearms possession and rates of gun suicide in addition to the potential successfulness of
the policy based methods to prevent gun suicide in America. They conclude that minimizing
access and availability of guns has decreased the rates of gun-related suicides in other nations,
however, it has failed to minimize them in the US. The article will help me in showing that
minimizing access and availability of firearms in the US does not remain a solution to the gun-
related deaths but the government must develop other effective strategies.
Parker, Megan. “Why Do We Need The Second Amendment?" Odyssey. Web. 9 November 2018
< https://www.theodysseyonline.com/need-second-amendment>
Parker explains the reason why the Second Amendment right remains critical for the citizens. The
author claims that banning guns does not remain an effective solution to ending the violence. She
argues that there exists a reason why people should own arms. The article concludes that
American citizens possess a right to bear guns to protect themselves from oppressive
governments and for self-defense. I will utilize the article to explain the reasons why the Second
Amendment remains important for the American people.
Wodarz, D. and Komarova, N. “Dependence of the Firearm-Related Homicide Rate on Gun Availability:
A Mathematical Analysis.” PLoS ONE 8(7): e71606, 2013.
< https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0071606>
The paper offers a mathematical formula to evaluate the tradeoff in the connection between the
rate of gun-induced deaths and the availability of legal arms. The author claims that the
availability of legal arms can raise that number of gun attacks hence gun-related deaths, but also,
arms possession can provide protection to the victims when faced by armed individuals hence
minimizing the rate of gun-related deaths. The framework argues that the gun connected rates f
homicide can be reduced by permitting legal possession of arms for every person or banning the
possession of private guns. The information remains critical because it will assist in providing
more information concerning the gun-related deaths and the possible strategies to solve the issue.

Surname 4
Zimmerman, E. “What can the Swiss Teach the US about Guns?" Swissinfo.ch, 2018. Web. 9 November
2018
< https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/florida-school-shooting_what-can-the-swiss-teach-the-us-about-guns-/
43923350>
The article argues that due to the Parkland school shooting, the Swiss resident and a former law
enforcer from America claim that America must implement the Switzerland policies of regulating
firearms. The author states that the democratic history, higher levels of firearm possession,
decentralized government and the acceptance towards the firearms offers important similarities to
America. The article will assist me in demonstrating the importance of the Second Amendment
and how the government can emulate the policies in Switzerland to end the gun-related deaths
instead of banning gun ownership

Surname 5
Works Cited
Bachmann, H. “The Swiss Difference: A Gun Culture that Works." Times. Web. 9 November 2018
< http://world.time.com/2012/12/20/the-swiss-difference-a-gun-culture-that-works/>
Elvin, Ron. “Repeal the Second Amendment? That’s Not So Simple. Here’s What It Would Take.” Npr,
2018.
< https://www.npr.org/2018/03/01/589397317/repeal-the-second-amendment-thats-not-so-simple-here-s-
what-it-would-take>
Mann, J., Christina, M. and Michel, B. “Prevention of Firearms Suicide in the United States: What Works
and What is Impossible." Am J Psychiatry 173:10, October 2016. Web. 9 November 2018
Parker, Megan. “Why Do We Need The Second Amendment?" Odyssey. Web. 9 November 2018
< https://www.theodysseyonline.com/need-second-amendment>
Wodarz, D. and Komarova, N. “Dependence of the Firearm-Related Homicide Rate on Gun Availability:
A Mathematical Analysis.” PLoS ONE 8(7): e71606, 2013.
< https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0071606>
Zimmerman, E. “What can the Swiss Teach the US about Guns?" Swissinfo.ch, 2018. Web. 9 November
2018
< https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/florida-school-shooting_what-can-the-swiss-teach-the-us-about-guns-/
43923350>