Anderson 1
Kamille Anderson
10/22/2014
Ms.Mohi
Assignment: Paper 2 Final
Guns Would Make People Feel Safer

Over the past few years, Gun control has been a prevalent issue in our country. Some believe that everyone should carry a weapon while other thinks that events such as the Sandy Hooke elementary school incident, should make it more difficult to obtain a gun in the United States. If everyone had a gun the world would be much safer than they already are. In “Just Walk On By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space”, Brent Staples experiences racial profiling throughout his life based on his appearance and race. His first victim was wary about him being behind her. In this situation if the woman had a gun then she would not have ran away like she did because she is protected with a gun. In this article, “A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries A Gun”, Linda M. Hasselstrom seems to be the victim in numerous situations that she would have been vulnerable to. With everyone allowed to have guns, people would not even think about attacking someone knowing that they are also armed with a gun. If everyone had a gun people would start to feel protected, which would help prevent crime, therefore the rate would decrease. With everyone having a gun there would be more protection, especially for those who are vulnerable. In Staples' article his first victim was wary because a broad looking African American male was traveling behind her. “After a few more quick glimpses, she picked up her pace and was soon running in earnest.” (Staples 240). The woman would not have felt so vulnerable knowing
Anderson 2 that she has a gun. She would have remained calm and not run off in fear. In Hasselstrom's article she protected herself with a gun in a situation when it came to a couple of intoxicated men. “'Right over there,' I said, still being polite.” -- there, and over there.' I pointed with my pistol, which I'd slipped under my thigh. Within one minute the cans and the men were back in the car and headed down the road” (Hasselstrom 357). The situation escalated quickly when Hasselstrom introduced her gun. Without the gun Hasselstrom would not have been protected; the whole situation would have a different outcome. In Hasselstrom's situation a gun protected her from what could have turned into a rape or an attack and in Staples' situation the white lady would have been more comfortable knowing that she was protected with a gun. With everyone having a gun crime would be prevented. Being the vulnerable person that she is, Hasselstrom would have never had to be in a situation that she was in if she had a gun to protect herself. “When we returned from our walk, we found our closest neighbors were two young men. As we gathered our cooking gear, they drank beer and loudly discussed what they would do to us after dark” (Hasselstrom 355). If Hasselstrom and her friend had a gun they would not have to worry about the two men because they would have been protected. If Hasselstrom had a gun those two men would not even attempt to do anything illegal. “The proprietor excused herself and returned with an enormous red Doberman pinscher straining at the end of a leash” (Staples 243). The woman in the jewelry store saw Staples come in the store and automatically thought that he was going to rob her. If she had a gun she would not have gone to that extent being that no one would be foolish enough to rob a store knowing that the owner has a gun to protect themselves. If Hasselstrom had a gun the two men would not have thought of doing anything to her and as for Staples, the lady in the jewelry store would have been