1 Black Princess Dr. Lewis English 1301 7 Feb 2019 Summary/Essay Response In the “Guns and Cars Are Different” essay by Jacob MacLEOD he responds to a column “Our Blind Spot about Guns,” written by the New York times columnist Nicholas Kristof speaking on his thoughts comparing Guns to cars in order to get his point across for better gun regulations. Kristof imposes that gun regulation will decrease death caused by gun use tremendously. Kristoff further demonstrates his point by stating that the regulations governments have instituted for cars like lowering the speed limit made the roads safer and decreased the number of deaths per million miles driven greatly. Although MacLEOD agreed with Kristof on better gun regulations MacLEOD does not believe that all of the safety regulations imposed on cars are safer nor does MacLEOD believes that all the gun regulations that Kristoff proposes will all have positive outcomes. I agree with both Kristof and MacLEOD regulation should be expanded for people who would like to own a gun. I also agree with Macleod that not all safety regulation imposed for cars are safer. I also agree with both Macleod and Kristoff on the gun regulations. Background checks for those who would like to purchase guns should be expanded. Though MacLEOD believes that trigger locks to smart guns that recognizes a thumb print as similar to an iPhone may not be a good form of regulation. Though I do believe that Kristoff may have a point when thinking a little outside the box as far as smart guns but mandatory trigger locks violates the 2nd amendment so that as a form of regulation doesn’t quite support Kristof’s approach. MacLeod added through further research that the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research Daniel Webster implied that universal backgrounds checks will reduce the availability of guns 2 Black Princess Dr. Lewis English 1301 7 Feb 2019 Summary/Essay Response significantly to high risk groups as well as the number of guns being diverted to the illegal market which makes it easier to prosecute gun traffickers. I agree with that statement. The illegal market is finding new ways to curve the law, which brings more problems in the world as we see today. We have had 307 mass school shooting in the last year of 2018. Buckling down on gun regulation is by far a must. Though I have some questions about car regulation. Cars have the ability to kill but were made for transportation, not as a weapon. The government and automakers have installed as many safety features on car as its possible to have. As Kristoff pointed out the government also lowered speed limits. But statistics consistently shows that the lack of skill behind the wheel is what causes auto crashes, not impaired driving or mechanical failure. Macleod stated through further research that in 1987 forty states raised their speed limits from 55 to 65 mph. the evidence from that change studies show that some drivers may have turned to safer interstates from other, more dangerous roads and highway patrol chiefs were allowed to focused less on enforcing interstate speed limits and more on other safety activities and other highways. This analyzes is based purely on local effects of the change and not systemwide. Around 40,000 people per year die by cars which is just as many as guns (2016 being the deadliest year on American roads since 2007) gun rights supporters understands the analogy A gun, like a car are both an effective tool and both a deadly instrument. And if both are used properly will get the job done. People die by both guns and cars. focusing on certain conditions rather than focusing on the object itself. The battles against drunk driving didn’t focus on 3 Black Princess Dr. Lewis English 1301 7 Feb 2019 Summary/Essay Response banning drunk drivers’ cars, it focused on the conditions that create drunk driving, such as being in over served bars and prosecuting the driver him or herself but not the car. My thoughts are more of a utilitarianism outlook on this particular comparison. Nothing is Nether wrong or right say the consequences make it so. It’s not more so the object that is bad but the action behind the person if it brings such consequence. So, in this particular situation cars and guns pretty much holds the same amount of weight. I agree with both presenters Kristof, MacLEOD on many aspects regarding the guns and understanding the reason for which comparing guns to cars could be a source of common sense thinking. Expanding background checks would be a helpful source, Guns were made for killing, rather it’s for hunting a sport or cold murder. but treating guns like cars may be too much of a lenient approach. Works Cited Bullock, Richard H., et al. The Norton Field Guide to Writing: with Handbook. W.W. Norton & Company, 2016. Kellar, Travis, and Travis Kellar. “How Many Mass Shootings? U.S. Has Averaged Almost 1 per Day This Year.” PennLive.com, PennLive.com, 9 Nov. 2018, www.pennlive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/11/2576388b0c5078/heres-how-many-massshootings.html. 4 Black Princess Dr. Lewis English 1301 7 Feb 2019 Summary/Essay Response Kristof, Nicholas. “Our Blind Spot About Guns.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 31 July 2014, www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/opinion/nicholas-kristof-our-blind-spot-aboutguns.html.
