Need Some Help Here Fella's

[TwitchyBlade]

OK so first off I am in college right now and in my English class we were told to choose a topic that best interested us to write about for an argumentative essay. The broad topic has to do with crime and laws. So obviously with my addiction and love for knives that's what I chose. Now I'm not asking for you to do the research for me. I'm just looking for a base to get my paper going. What would you guys recommend for a very reliable source for knife laws and why they were created? My main focus for my essay is "what sparked the need for knife laws to be established?"

Any help is great help.
Much appreciated

Andrew

 

[JAB]

I'm not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for, but the Switchblade Act of 1958 might be a good place to start. Hope this helps.

 

[cgmblade]

Try these:

http://www.kniferights.org/

http://home.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm

http://www.thebladeshop.com/State_Knife_Laws_s/478.htm

http://www.donath.org/Rants/StateKnifeLaws/

If you are trying to make the argument that knife laws aren't effective in reducing crime then you might have more success if you change the topic to firearms as more has been written on that topic.

A place to start your research: http://georgiapacking.org/links.php

Also get a copy of the book 'More Guns, Less Crime' by John Lott.

http://www.amazon.com/More-Guns-Less-Crime-Understanding/dp/0226493636

An interview w/ the author:
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/493636.html

From the interview:

There is a strong negative relationship between the number of law-abiding citizens with permits and the crime rate—as more people obtain permits there is a greater decline in violent crime rates. For each additional year that a concealed handgun law is in effect the murder rate declines by 3 percent, rape by 2 percent, and robberies by over 2 percent.

Concealed handgun laws reduce violent crime for two reasons. First, they reduce the number of attempted crimes because criminals are uncertain which potential victims can defend themselves. Second, victims who have guns are in a much better position to defend themselves.

Good luck with your assignment.

Chris

 

[kungfucowboy]

"what sparked the need for knife laws to be established?"

one problem is you assume a need for knife laws, it may or may not be needed but for your starting point to declare it is creates a bias right from the start.

i would revise it to something more along the lines of "what caused knife laws to be established" or "what incidents sparked landmark knife legislation" or "what is the origin of knife control" or something else like that. Are knife laws needed would be another topic on it's own.