Just Take Away Their Guns

In the essay, “Just Take Away Their Guns,” James Q. Wilson proposes a particular method to assist gun control laws in our country. Wilson proposes that if law enforcement acquires street frisks, the possession of illegal guns will drop in numbers. Through his many methods of persuasion, Wilson’s essay is executed effectively. He shows reasoning and fairness to the opposing sides to his argument but lacks the thought to other issues, such as the economy and social outrage brought on by his idea. Wilson shows the readers that he is passionate on this subject but is almost a little too hopeful with his childlike wonder of justice.

There are usually key words in a title, but all of these words play an important role. “Just” is used to make it seem easy and maybe even a little demanding. This may not seem like a word that could be taken out of context, but by Wilson adding “Just” shows that, though Wilson might be passionate about the subject of gun control, his problem solving skills lack deliberation. “Take Away” is important, because this tells the reader’s where Wilson stands in his essay. He does not want to give anyone a gun he wants to “Take Away Their Guns,” which leads to the question, who is “Their?” The title leaves the reader guessing who Wilson is talking about, possibly making the essay even more interesting by not disclosing that information. Last, but not least, there is the basis of the essay, “Guns.” Without the word “Guns,” the reader would not grasp what the essay was about. The title for Wilson’s work implies everything the reader needs to know before diving nose first into this essay. Though this title lacks a little imagination, it does what it is meant to do, by pulling the reader into those first few ...

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...d and lack deliberation. The ideas are not solid but what makes this essay special is the tone that Wilson has set for his audience.

Wilson’s passion for this subject shines through his work to the audience. While reading this essay the audience can interpret that Wilson feels deeply about illegal guns, and what could be a possible situation because of this. Wilson does not push his reader’s to agree with him, but simply gives reasons to contemplate. This essay was originally presented in the New York Times, which gives Wilson an audience that is familiar with high crime rates due to living in a popular city.

Works Cited

Wilson, James Q. “Just Take Away Their Guns.” Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: A

Brief Guide to Argument. Ed. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau. 8 ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2014. 125-128. Print.