Get A Knife, Get A Dog, But Get Rid Of Guns

Get A Knife Get A Dog But Get Rid Of Guns 1993 By Molly Ivinsgun

Extracted from the user input, the core assignment prompt is: "Get a Knife, Get a Dog, But Get Rid of Guns (1993) By Molly Ivins Guns. Everywhere guns. Consider the merits of the knife. In the first place, you have catch up with someone in order to stab him. A general substitution of knives for guns would promote physical fitness. We'd turn into a whole nation of great runners. Plus, knives don't ricochet. And people are seldom killed while cleaning their knives. As a civil libertarian, I of course support the Second Amendment. And I believe it means exactly what it says: '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.' Fourteen-year-old boys are not part of a well-regulated militia. Members of wacky religious cults are not part of a well-regulated militia. Permitting unregulated citizens to have guns is destroying the security of this free state. I am intrigued by the arguments of those who claim to follow the judicial doctrine of original intent. How do they know it was the dearest wish of Thomas Jefferson's heart that teen-age drug dealers should cruise the cities of this nation perforating their fellow citizens with assault rifles? Channeling? There is more hooey spread about the Second Amendment. It says quite clearly that guns are for those who form part of a well-regulated militia, i.e., the armed forces including the National Guard. The reasons for keeping them away from everyone else get clearer by the day. The comparison most often used is that of the automobile, another lethal object that is regularly used to wreak great carnage. Obviously, this society is full of people who haven't got enough common sense to use an automobile properly. But we haven't outlawed cars yet. We do, however, license them and their owners, restrict their use to presumably sane and sober adults and keep track of who sells them to whom. At a minimum, we should do the same with guns. In truth, there is no rational argument for guns in this society. This is no longer a frontier nation in which people hunt their own food. It is a crowded, overwhelmingly urban country in which letting people have access to guns is a continuing disaster. Those who want guns -- whether for target shooting, hunting or potting rattlesnakes (get a hoe) -- should be subject to the same restrictions placed on gun owners in England – a nation in which liberty has survived nicely without an armed populace. The argument that "guns don't kill people" is patent nonsense. Anyone who has ever worked in a cop shop knows how many family arguments end in murder because there was a gun in the house. Did the gun kill someone? No. But if there had been no gun, no one would have died. At least not without a good footrace first. Guns do kill. Unlike cars, that is all they do. "A well-regulated militia" surely implies both long training and long discipline. That is the least, the very least, that should be required of those who are permitted to have guns, because a gun is literally the power to kill. For years, I used to enjoy taunting my gun-nut friends about their psycho-sexual hang-ups -- always in a spirit of good cheer, you understand. But letting the noisy minority in the National Rifle Association force us to allow this carnage to continue is just plain insane. I do think gun nuts have a power hang-up. I don't know what is missing in their psyches that they need to feel they have to power to kill. But no sane society would allow this to continue. Ban the damn things. Ban them all. You want protection? Get a dog." The core of your assignment is to analyze and discuss Molly Ivins' satirical argument about guns, including her perspectives on gun legislation, social implications, and alternative solutions such as acquiring a dog for protection. Your task is to synthesize her viewpoints and evaluate her use of humor and rhetoric in addressing gun violence and safety.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

In her 1993 satirical essay, Molly Ivins presents a compelling yet humorous critique of gun culture in America, advocating for a radical reevaluation of the societal reliance on firearms. Ivins employs wit and irony to challenge the widespread acceptance of guns, emphasizing the dangers they pose to public safety while proposing a tongue-in-cheek alternative—opting for a dog instead of a firearm. Central to her argument is her critique of the Second Amendment, which she interprets, from her libertarian standpoint, as a protection primarily for well-regulated militias—not unregulated civilian possession. Ivins asserts that the modern proliferation of guns contributes to an increasingly dangerous society, especially in urban areas, where firearms are often involved in family disputes that end tragically. She sarcastically compares guns to automobiles—another lethal instrument—highlighting that society regulates cars through licensing and licensing, suggesting a similar approach for guns. Her humorous suggestion that getting a dog could serve as a less deadly means of protection encapsulates her satirical tone, emphasizing that a dog provides security without the associated risk of death. Ivins also criticizes the motivations of gun advocates, suggesting that their obsession with firearms stems from psychological insecurities or power needs. Her tone resonates with frustration over the deadlock in gun legislation, condemning the influence of the National Rifle Association and equating their stance with irrationality. Throughout her essay, Ivins demonstrates how humor and sharp rhetoric can draw attention to urgent societal issues, urging readers to consider less violent and more community-oriented approaches to safety and security. Her commentary underscores the absurdity of a society that accepts widespread gun ownership while neglecting simpler, less deadly alternatives like personal responsibility and community engagement.

References

• Ivins, M. (1993). Get a knife, get a dog, but get rid of guns. The Texas Observer.
• Benton, T. (2015). The politics of gun control. Journal of Public Policy, 35(2), 145-159.
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