12. Guns and Weapons

Why guns should be legal:

• In some countries, people are allowed to own firearms
• Individuals have the right to protect themselves
• People can use guns in self defence
• This deters criminals

Why gun ownership should be illegal:

• There is a risk of accidents with guns
• The number of violent crimes increases when guns are available
• Criminals may be armed
• The police then need to use guns
• Suicide rates have been shown to rise when guns are available
• Guns create violent societies with high murder rates

Why polices should use guns

• Many criminals use weapons
• The threat of a gun can deter criminals
• Police officers can forces a criminal to surrender
• It is easier to arrest someone and avoid physical violence
• The police may shoot violent criminals in self defence
• They can protect the public
• They can shoot an escaping criminal who poses a serious danger to the public

Why police should not carry guns

• There is a risk of accidents and mistakes
• The police might shoot an unarmed criminal or an innocent person
• Accidents can happen in public places
• There are several alternatives to guns (e.g tear gas, sprays and electric shock weapons)
• Only special police units should use guns

Arm Trade: Positives

• The export of arms, or weapons, is an extremely controversial issue
• Governments of rich, industrialized countries sell arms to each other
• This industry creates jobs and wealth
• The trade of weapons may improve relationships between governments

Arms Trade: Negatives

• Weapons may be used in conflicts and wars
• The supply of arms could be responsible for deaths
• Governments are promoting war in order to make a profit
• Rich countries can influence the politics of other nations

Nuclear weapons

• Nuclear weapons are capable of destroying whole cities
• A nuclear war between two countries would destroy both countries
• Nuclear weapons are used as a deterrent
• They prevent wars from starting

Nuclear weapons: Opinion

• Nuclear weapons should be prohibited
• Governments should limit the production of nuclear weapons
• There is a danger of nuclear weapons being obtained by terrorists
• Nuclear weapons cannot be used against terrorist organizations

Armed Forces: Positives

• Armed forces provide security and protection
• They deter military attack by another country
• They can also be sued to maintain peace within countries
• They can be sued to give the police extra support
• Soldiers are also used to help in emergency situations, such as after a natural disaster

Armed forces: negatives

• Armies require a lot of funding from governments
• Too much money is spent on weapons and military technology
• This money could be spent on schools, hospitals and other public services

为什么持枪应该合法

• 在一些国家，人们被允许持有火器
• 个人有权利保护自己
• 人们可以在自卫中使用枪
• 这阻止了罪犯

为什么持枪应该非法

• 持枪会有事故的风险
• 当枪可获取时暴力犯罪的数量上升了
• 罪犯或许被武装
• 然后警察也需要使用枪
• 当枪可获取时自杀率显示上升
• 枪营造了有着高谋杀率的暴力社会

为什么警察应该使用枪

• 许多罪犯使用武器
• 枪的震慑可以阻止罪犯
• 警察官员可以迫使罪犯投降
• 逮捕某人并避免物理暴力变得简单
• 警察在自卫中或许射击罪犯
• 他们可以保护公众
• 他们可以射击一个对公众产生严重威胁的在逃罪犯

为什么警察不应该持有枪

• 有事故和错误的风险
• 警察可能射击一个没有武装的罪犯或者一个无辜的人
• 在公共地方可能发生事故
• 有很多可以替代枪的选择(如催泪瓦斯、喷雾和电击)
• 只有特殊的警察单位应该使用枪

军火贸易:优点

• 武器或者武器的输出是一项极具争议的问题
• 富裕、工业化国家的政府相互销售武器
• 这个行业创造了工作和财富
• 武器贸易或许提升政府间关系

军火贸易:缺点

• 武器可能用于冲突和战争中
• 武器的提供能对死亡负责
• 政府为了逐利正在促进战争
• 富国能影响他国的政治

核武器

• 核武器有能力摧毁一整座城市
• 两个国家间的核战会摧毁这两个国家
• 核武器被用作威慑
• 他们从一开始阻止了战争

核武器:观点

• 核武器应该被禁止
• 政府应该限制核武器的生产
• 存在恐怖分子获得核武器的危险
• 核武器不能被用于抗击恐怖组织

武装部队:优点

• 武装部队提供安全和保护
• 他们阻止来自其它国家的军事威胁
• 他们也可以被用于维持国内的和平
• 他们能被用于给警察额外的支持
• 军人也被用于帮助突发情况，比如一次自然灾害之后

武装部队:缺点

• 军队要求政府很多的资金
• 太多的钱被花在武器和军事技术
• 这钱可以被花在学校、医院和其它公共服务