Preview

Keeping A Gun In The House By Billy Collins Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
275 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Keeping A Gun In The House By Billy Collins Analysis
At first glance, it appears that Billy Collins poem, Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House, is about the legality of purchasing and owning a weapon. However, after reading the poem, it is clear to see that the seriousness of the title gives way to an artistic poem about a neighbor's incessantly barking dog.

Owning a gun is a contentious issue that evokes emotion from many who are involved in the debate. In many respects, this is a political poem about the second amendment rights--gun ownership--granted by the United States Constitution. Even though Collins never mentions a gun in the poem itself, he is alluding to the dangers of gun ownership and the temptations to use a gun, even in situations that do not deserve such a dramatic

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In Leonard Pitts’ article “We Fail Our Children As More Succumb To Guns Every Day” Pitts states his argumentation on ongoing gun fatalities such as, deaths of babies, young children, and young adults. Although he presents his points and opinions, Leonard Pitts’ failed to prove his point and conclude his argument on guns being the problem of our nation.…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “Just Take Away Their Guns,” by James Q. Wilson, Collins Professor of Management and Public Policy at the University of California at Los Angeles, the author shows what is wrong with each side of the argument. In the first paragraph, he says, “The president wants still tougher gun control legislation and thinks it will work” (Barnet and Bedau 124). But, he continues on to say how this will not affect the illegal use of guns. About 200 million privately own a gun and one-third of that 200 million own a handgun (Barnet and Bedau 124). Only two percent of the citizens are using them in unlawful acts (Barnet and Bedau 124). The number of people who defend themselves outnumbers the amount of arrests for crimes committed. There are many issues with gun control, such as, whether a citizen should be able to own a gun or not, law enforcement confiscations, and punishment for criminals who use guns.…

    • 624 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Citizens have an equal right to guns as well as the right to gun safety. In James Q Wilson’s excerpt “Just Take Away Their Guns”, Mr. Wilson disputes against the critical notion to ban individual’s right to arms, and instead pleads for the reduction of illicit gun abuse. Expanding upon his article he vouches for lawful frisking, acted out by an officer with reasonable suspicion. If in such occasion an illegal gun is found, the suspect will be arrested.…

    • 117 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The claim of this essay is that in the debates of gun control logic has lost out in the past and is currently losing out. This article describes the difficulties and rationale of both sides of the gun control debate. The author talks about how a proposal in 1978 would have manufacturers, wholesalers, and send purchase reports to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The idea was that creating such a database would allow for instantaneous tracing of guns found at crime scenes, and potentially track sales of firearms to the illegal gun market.…

    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    In her essay “Why Handguns Must Be Outlawed,” Nan Desuka brings for the issue whether handguns should be outlawed except to police and other service units. I disagree with Desuka’s position on banning handguns. This essay offers arguments why they should be banned without offering realistic solutions to the problems Desuka states in owning handguns. Retaining legalized handguns affects all of us. It’s essential to Collectors and sportsmen, and vital to all our safety. I do not believe that banning handguns will overall decrease violent crimes or the deaths due to violent crimes.…

    • 1132 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    This existing policy of course is the second amendment. She explains how she highly agrees with the amendment but that people are seeing the amendment in the wrong way. The second amendment states “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” The author also has no facts to be proven, her argument is mostly surrounded by opinion and belief. The only facts she really has are the most obvious to everyone: like a person who drives a car is licensed or the second amendment has the word militia in it.…

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    James Q. Wilson writes in " Gun Control Isn't the Answer" about Americans having the right to own guns freely. He states that the rates of death will continue to rise even if there are gun laws. Gun control laws are laws that manage the sales, transfers, and possessions of firearms. In today's society the possessions of guns have skyrocketed through the roof, which is a great reason to have these laws. Contrary to what the author states, gun control is needed because our children are unsafe, homicide rates are rising, and the wrong people have guns.…

    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Moore, R. Gun Control. 13 Apr. 1995 In this essay by Richard Moore, he talks about the societal benefits of firearms in the hands of responsible citizens. He believes that keeping firearms from law-abiding citizens would do more harm than good. A law-abiding citizen “must not have a criminal record, must not abuse alcohol or drugs, must not be mentally ill, must not have renounced U.S. citizenship, must not have been dishonorably discharged from the military, and must be in the U.S. legally”…

    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In light of the recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, people across the country—especially politicians—have been pushing for immediate action towards gun policies. Some believe that the government should allow for guns in schools, others think that there needs to be more gun regulations and less firearms in the hands of citizens. Nicholas D. Kristof, a columnist for The New York Times, has a firm belief in the latter. In his essay, “Do We Have the Courage to Stop This?” faces the controversial issue of gun control. Kristof explains why he believes there should be more control on firearms and makes use of literary techniques to convince the reader.…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He inspires change in this article, in hope of extending that to his readers. His use of facts, and a well structured essay make for an overall convincing argument. He does not appear to use much of his own voice or opinions in the paper, helping to make it seem unbiased and more so a speculation and analysis of gun control.…

    • 885 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It concludes in the passage, “Issue Overview: Guns in America,” , paragraph 1 lines 1-3 it states “ Every time there is a mass shooting in the United States, people start arguing over the right to own guns. Americans own more guns than anybody else on Earth. Firearms are involved in the deaths of more than 30,000 people in the United States each year.” , It shows that in this part of the passage that there we a lot of mass shootings if everytime they had one the ones that heard are saw it always argued the fact that the president always let them have guns, but it is not their fault they are getting shot because they are allowed to have guns. It shows in the passage, “Famous Speeches: "We call BS," Emma Gonzalez's speech to gun advocates” , paragraph 2, lines 1-2, ”Every single person up here today, all these people should be home grieving. But instead, we are standing together because all our government and president can do is send thoughts and prayers.”, In paragraph 2 it shows how everyone was standing around and trying to listen to what the president had to say but all he could do was pray for citizens and he could not do anymore than just that and send good thoughts through some lives. In addition to this formal subject, one might have a different opinion…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Right To Bear Arms

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Gun control and the Second Amendment have been in the new and at the forefront of American conversation in the last several months. The largest topic in this discussion is, what does the Second Amendment say, what does it mean, and does it still apply today. The main viewpoints of this argument really come from each group’s interpretation of the verbiage that makes up the Second Amendment. One group takes a universal human right to bear arms approach, while another group takes an approach that makes the Second Amendment a propositional statement.…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people believe that there should be no lengthy process in obtaining a gun specifically because it diminishes their right of security. In more than half the United States it is legal for an honorable discharged veteran to carry a licensed firearm with no lengthy process. Others believe that it should be the same for the rest for the rest of America. The process for a veteran to acquire a gun only depends upon them to pass a criminal background check, accumulate a copy of their DD form stating you were discharged under an honorable status, as well as supply any type of identification with a photo for the license, and finally pay a license fee of one hundred and seventeen dollars for five years. Many people believe it should be the same for the rest of America. Given that the veteran has just been discharged from war, they too may have post traumatic stress…

    • 548 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    On June. 12th , 2016, a gun crime took place in a club in Orlando, which took 49 lives and injures 53 people. This issue made people realize that gun violence is a big problem in America. We know that many gun crime happened in the USA in history and guns control became a hot spot nowadays.…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Justin Cronin the writer of “Confessions of a Liberal Gun Owner” states that you should be able to own guns. You should be able to exercise your rights and express your beliefs on gun ownership. All should be done with the right precautions and safety. The effectiveness of this essay makes it a convincing, because he states his arguments and he also states possible counter arguments.…

    • 858 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays