Reading Response to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell Essay Example

Reading Response to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell Essay Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking is a popular science book published in 2005. The subject is the ‘human adaptive unconscious’, which is the cognitive phenomenon behind quick, frequent and automatic processes in the mind. Gladwell’s central thesis is that our minds can make fairly accurate judgments, without consuming much time and information. Gladwell goes on to present several supporting evidence to back up his thesis. These include verifiable cases from the domains of gambling, speed dating, strategy video games and malpractice suits. And I have to admit that most of them are quite convincing. Gladwell describes the phenomena as ‘thin-slicing’, which humans employ most of the time as a way of de-cluttering the mind from the abundance of information available to it. According to Gladwell’s thesis, ‘thin-slicing’ is as good a strategy (if not better) than comprehensive analysis of an occurrence/situation. Hence, spontaneous decisions tend to be as good as deliberate, thought out ones. Gladwell presents numerous examples from the fields of marketing, medicine, science and popular music to illustrate his point. On the nature of human decision making, Gladwell notes, â€Å"Our world requires that decisions be sourced and footnoted, and if we say how we feel, we must also be prepared to elaborate on why we feel that way. I think that approach is a mistake, and if we are to learn to improve the quality of the decisions we make, we need to accept the mysterious nature of our snap judgements. We need to respect the fact that it is possible to know without knowing why we know and accept that — sometimes — we’re better off that way.† (Gladwell, 2005) We will write a custom essay sample on Reading Response to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Reading Response to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Reading Response to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer What convinced me about Gladwell’s thesis is his choice of examples. The decision of a fire lieutenant in Cleveland to order his men out of an un-abating fire (on the basis of an extra-sensory perception of danger) is one of many persuasive cases the author presents. This decision saved their lives, as the floor on which they were dousing fire collapsed within a few seconds of the decision to recall personnel. The case of dubious originality of the statue Getty Kouros is another classic example, where experts ‘sensed’ from their very first sighting something fishy about the work’s authenticity. Another example that stuck in my mind is that of marriage expert John Gottman, who can make largely accurate predictions on the durability of marriages by simply watching the couple speak for an hour. Hence, my overall impression of the book is one of assent, as supporting evidence for the thesis seemed fairly robust. But there are a few flaws and deficiencies as well. Firstly, Gladwell seems to claim that ‘thin-slicing’ is a fairly robust and dependable way of arriving at spot judgments. But this goes against the grain of conventional wisdom as many key decisions in life have to be deliberately considered and decided. The tendency to ‘thin-slice’ suppresses our critical thinking faculties, which is a more dependable tool in the long run. For example, the author seems to suggest that the subconscious, intuitive and the paranormal should occupy a higher place than rationality and rigorous reasoning: â€Å"There can be as much value in the blink of an eye as in months of rational analysis†¦ research suggests that what we think of as free will is largely an illusion: much of the time, we are simply operating on automatic pilot, and the way we think and act – and how well we think and act on the spur of the moment – are a lot more susceptible to outside influences than we realize.† (Gladwell, 2005) But the dominance of the adaptive unconscious and the threat of ‘analysis paralysis’ should not dissuade us from eliminating valuable information from the decision making process. In this aspect, I would say that the author’s emphasis on the validity of ‘thin-slicing’ and the power of the unconscious is exaggerated. Barring the few criticisms pointed to above, the book is a valuable addition to collegiate libraries. This book is relevant to the classroom, for it exposes students to off-beat occurrences and unusual phenomena which do not usually feature in their textbooks. This will widen students’ intellectual horizons and also sharpen their perceptive ability. Ideally, the book could be incorporated into the psychology/sociology curriculum as an ‘elective’ subject, where interested students can take up credits. Work Cited: Gladwell, Malcolm, Blink, published by Back Bay Books in 2005, ISBN 0-316-17232-4

Theories of Creativity Essays

Theories of Creativity Essays Theories of Creativity Paper Theories of Creativity Paper Theories of Creativity and Quality Theories of Creativity and Quality Theories of creativity are vast. Several psychological theories on the process of creativity are chronicled. Some theorists explain creativity as intrinsic creative motivations, which individuals create a project for the sake of creating (Wibell, 2011). Other theorists convey the brain controls levels of creativity, and mental illness has an impact on creative process. Further, many believe the humanistic theory of creativity spawns the creative process. Through self-actualization creativity comes in peak experiences. The quality of the work depends on what is measured. The quality of the creative work depicts the message of the writing. The message can be entertaining, or educational. The humanistic theory of creativity stems from self-actualization described by Abraham Maslow, a pioneer in humanistic psychology. Maslow believes that creativity is divided into three categories; primary creativity, secondary creativity, and integrated creativity. This theory encompasses the gestalt of human intelligence and emotional state as well as the needs that must be met in order for someone to be completely able to express his, or her creativity. Primary creativity according to Maslow, allows self to escape from life stress. Individuals channel life stresses into creative art such as painting, sculpture, or writing. Secondary creativity results from the use of higher thought powers. Secondary creativity takes over from primary creativity and adds to it through the preparation stages (Bergquist, 2011). Integrated creativity stems from combining primary and secondary creativity that results in great works in art, philosophy, and scientific discoveries. The creative integration is also characteristic of self-actualized emotionally healthy individuals. Self-actualization is the full use of talents, capacities, and potentials. In order for the individual to reach the self-actualization level a series of hierarchy achievements must be accomplished; creativity can flourish only after the levels described have been reached. For example, the need for safety can come in various forms such as a safe place to live. Creativity may be hard to accomplish if an individual is homeless with the exceptions of J. K Rowlings the author of the Harry Potter series, and Tyler Perry, playwright; both homeless, living in cars when writing mega-hit products. The mental illness theory allows the writer to access the parts of the brain that generates abnormal ideas, which can differ from the norm as they may be considered strange. Not everyone who is considered creative is stark-raving mad, however; there are certain elements that tend to be present in highly creative people who cause them to view the world differently and choose to portray it in a different light. Additionally, people whose thought processes differ from the majority have a tendency to want to escape from reality and may choose to do so through the creative arts. The extent of level of mental illness is not necessarily relevant to an individual’s creative ability. In individuals such as Vincent Van Gogh- where it was believed he suffered from mental illness- the level of this illness was not fully determined or relevant, yet his creative works remain very much alive in the world today. The mental illness theory suggests that individuals intensely creative- and whose creative ideas are viewed as strange- are believed to suffer from mental illness that also diminishes their ability to fully function in society. This theory offers the possibility that an abnormality is present in some people to cause the desire to explore a darker side of their psyche. Any difference in a persons thought process that differs from the norm can be considered a mental illness in some way, or can be linked to one; this difference is not necessarily a negative thing because if this abnormality is mild, and it will rarely interfere with an individuals’ ability to operate in society. Carl Jung (1953) extends creative functioning by further dividing artistic creativity into two categories, psychological art, and visionary art. Art is considered psychological art and appears to be generated by primary processes. With this Maslow’s humanistic theory of creativity ties into with his theory about needs requiring to be met before reaching a higher point of creativity. Visionary art which derives its existence from the hinterlands of the mans mind, is the type of art where the strange worlds and ideasdescribed by the mental illness theory of creativityare generated from, as it connects creative individuals with the super-human and timeless worlds beyond their conscious knowing. A plausible explanation for the relation of both the humanistic and mental illness theories similarities is attributed to author, Koestler who fails to represent any particular school of thought, but has had much success in creativity research. His premise on creativity is â€Å"bisociation† a term â€Å"coined by Koestler meaning to join unrelated, often conflictual, information in a new way. † He also goes on to say that this is similar to being double minded or able to think on more than one plane of thought simultaneously, and Frank Barron (1988) places the possibility that developing the ability to â€Å"tolerate chaos or seemingly opposite information is characteristic of creative individuals† (Bergquist, 2009). In short, appears both theories may very well be related, but worded differently. The attributes discussed by the mental illness theory touches on the humans’ ability to think on two distinct planes. The humanistic theory also holds truth when discussing the various needs one must attain before clearly being free to explore creativity as the whole. Concerning creativity, everyone has an opinion as how to approach it and judge its core. Some believe that for a work to be considered creative it must meet a few specific requirements such as being of fantasy or science fiction. Others believe that in order for creative works- whether they are art or music based- to be considered creative they have to be based on imagination; however, Al Gore’s book, paper, and PowerPoint presentation on global warming was quite creative even though it only appeared to be in functional writing format. Analyzing Theories Two types of writing, creative, and functional writing are of focus. Functional writing encompasses writings such as those found in phone manuals, data analysis, and essays; whereas creative writing has often been judged upon the inventiveness of the topic, for example, a fable or parable, a fiction story, or poetry. However, it has been determined by this team that the creativity writing and its quality should be judged on the content as well as the message it delivers to its intended audience. According to Mark Barrett, a writer and opinionated individual, writing should be judged according to the basis for writing. For example, if a writer writes to entertain or inform, the writing should be judged on whether or not it is powerful and clear or muddy and confusing. If writers write for the simple pleasure of writing or to have others enjoy their work, then the content should be judged on whether or not it is enjoyable (Barrett, 2010). Furthermore, there exist various methods of judging writing are based on what the judge considers to be correct according to the extent of their personal experience. However, most writers have agreed that the fundamental rule for judging lies in assessing the total impact of the passage, i. e. the combination of the creative ingenuity and the use of language (Chedzoy, n. d. ). The quality of a specific work should be evaluated for message and interest; in other words is the writing based on the interests of the writer. The creative work should be judged on the value, lesson, or educational message it conveys and the impact this has on the audience. Additionally, the flow and technical aspect of the writing should also be judged because the creative piece should flow naturally without fault or hindrance of grammatical errors and should emphasize pauses for thought, commas, or periods, (Hoosierpoet, 2004). As judges, questions regarding the writer’s choice in language or words must always be examined because these have an effect on the works’ purpose. Originality is key to being a great writer; it is important to use personal thoughts, ideas, and words when creating a work and if inspired by another’s work, it must be so noted. Finally, the judging of any work is complete when elements of the work are brought together and an impact has been made. Applied Theories Abraham Malsow’s humanistic theory of creativity specifies creativity occurs in stages. According to Maslow levels of achievement must be accomplished in order for creativity to flourish. Self-actualization is the goal of humanistic theory, and self-actualization occurs in stages. Once the stages are accomplished the individual has peak experiences, and peak experiences allow creativity to flourish. As a self-actualized creator there is an inclination to spark creativity across a vast number of areas. Through writing self-actualized creative writers can express ideas and impulses without fear of criticism, and thus are better able to produce, or express creative ideas, (Cassandro Simonton, 2011. ) Humanistic theory of the process of creativity for writing occurs in stages. In fiction writing hierarchy levels of achievement were required. First physiological needs met, the need for creative space. Creative space is anywhere from a room of one’s own to write in, to a small desk, in a shared room. Depending on the creative project the space may require isolation. Next is the need for creative peers such as classmates, or others in the same area of creativity to provide feedback. A need to surround self around others to obtain insight, information, ideas, or encouragement is essential (Morris, 2009. The need for creative inspiration follows. Inspiration can come in a variety of methods. For example, books, magazines, life experiences, the outside environment, and people watching inspire many creative writing processes. Another level on the hierarchy pyramid is imaginative space to doodle, scribble, or journal writing, which is different from physiological space, and allows creative energies to flow. The ability to have the freedom to expose the crea tive edge in the creative writing process assists in meeting the hierarchy levels of achievement. Solving problems, pushing boundaries, or developing something new is the heart of the creative writing process (Morris, 2009. ) When writing something from nothing more than a thought the writer needs to have faith in what he, or she is writing and believe in the final writing project. Additionally creative writing seeks an audience. In writing fiction the writer normally looks forward to his, or her work receiving feedback from peers, and enthusiastic responses from friends, and family. The need for certainty in an uncertain market is required. Creative writing, or creative arts of any sort require certainty in other areas such as home, relationships, or income assist in financially sustaining the writer throughout the creative writing process as he, or she work on the craft. Last on the humanistic theory of creativity hierarchy level of achievement is the need for time to cultivate the art of writing. Writers have to make choices in daily activities that allow for creative writing time to unfold. This means telling others no to activities, or completing chores early to allow time to write. Hierarchy levels of achievement are individualistic as pertains to the humanistic theory of creativity. Reference: V. Cassandro, and D. Simonton, (2011) Creativity and Genius. Retrieved from: www. nipissingu. ca/faculty/strange/courses/p2257/creativityandgenius. pdf. C. Morris, (2009) A Creative Person’s Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved from: www. journeyjuju. com/ /the-creative-person’s-hierarchy-of-needs. html Webill, K. (2011) Cognitive Creativity. Retrieved from: http://faculty. mercer. edu/spears_a/studentpages/creativity/cognitivecreativit

Copenhagen by Michael Frayn

Copenhagen by Michael Frayn Why do we do the things we do? It’s a simple question. But sometimes there’s more than one answer. And that’s where it gets complicated. In Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen, a fictional account of an actual event during World War II, two physicists exchange heated words and profound ideas. One man, Werner Heisenberg, seeks to harness the power of the atom for Germany’s forces. The other scientist, Niels Bohr is devastated that his native Denmark has been occupied by the Third Reich. Historical Context In 1941, German physicist Heisenberg paid a visit to Bohr. The two spoke very briefly before Bohr angrily ended the conversation and Heisenberg left. Mystery and controversy have surrounded this historic exchange. About a decade after the war, Heisenberg maintained that he visited Bohr, his friend,  and father-figure, to discuss his own ethical concerns about nuclear weaponry. Bohr, however, remembers differently; he claims that Heisenberg seemed to have no moral qualms about creating atomic weapons for the Axis powers. Incorporating a healthy combination of research and imagination, playwright Michael Frayn contemplates the various motivations behind Heisenberg’s meeting with his former mentor, Niels Bohr. The Setting: a Vague Spirit World Copenhagen is set in an undisclosed location, with no mention of sets, props, costume, or scenic design. (In fact, the play does not offer a single stage direction – leaving the action completely up to the actors and the director.) The audience learns early on that all three characters (Heisenberg, Bohr, and Bohr’s wife Margrethe) have been dead for years. With their lives now over, their spirits turn to the past to try to make sense of the 1941 meeting. During their discussion, the talkative spirits touch upon other moments in their lives – skiing trips and boating accidents, laboratory experiments and long walks with friends. Quantum Mechanics on Stage You don’t have to be a physics buff to love this play, but it certainly helps. Much of the charm of Copenhagen comes from Bohrs and Heisenberg’s expressions of their devout love of science. There is poetry to be found in the workings of an atom, and Frayn’s dialogue is most eloquent when the characters make profound comparisons between the reactions of electrons and the choices of humans. Copenhagen was first performed in London as a â€Å"theater in the round.† The movements of the actors in that production - as they argue, tease, and intellectualize - reflected the sometimes combative interactions of atomic particles. The Role of Margrethe At first glance, Margrethe might seem the most trivial character of the three. After all, Bohr and Heisenberg are the scientists, each one having a profound impact on the way mankind understands quantum physics, the anatomy of the atom, and the capability of nuclear energy. However, Margrethe is essential to the play because she gives the scientist characters an excuse to express themselves in layman’s terms. Without the wife evaluating their conversation, sometimes even attacking Heisenberg and defending her often-passive husband, the play’s dialogue might devolve into various equations. These conversations might be compelling for a few mathematical geniuses, but would be otherwise boring for the rest of us! Margrethe keeps the characters grounded. She represents the audience’s perspective. Ethical Questions At times the play feels too cerebral for its own good. Yet, the play works best when ethic dilemmas are explored. Was Heisenberg immoral for trying to supply the Nazis with atomic energy?Were Bohr and the other allied scientists behaving unethically by creating the atomic bomb?Was Heisenberg visiting Bohr to seek moral guidance? Or was he simply flaunting his superior status?​Each of these and more are worthy questions to consider. The play doesn’t provide a definitive answer, but it does hint that Heisenberg was a compassionate scientist who loved his fatherland, yet did not approve of atomic weapons. Many historians would disagree with Frayn’s interpretation, of course. Yet that makes Copenhagen all the more enjoyable. It might not be the most exciting play, but it certainly stimulates debate.

Summary for an article Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary for an article - Assignment Example Amateurism includes playing Hockey in a gentlemanly manner. Players were ejected for violating game rules. Amateurs did not play intensely for pay, but for peaceful fun. 3. The author states Hockey metamorphosed into a modern sport. Hockey, like modern sports, is bound by game rules. Hockey, like modern sports, is highly organized. Hockey, like modern sports, uses standard game equipments. 4. Further, Hockey’s modernization is grounded on the Canadian peacekeeper image. Game rules penalize violence. Rules reduce disorder in the game. Mass rowdiness is reduced to â€Å"peaceful† levels. 5. Further, Lacrosse, similar to Hockey, defies the British bourgeois sensibilities. Hockey defies British sensibilities of refinement. Hockey runs counter to British sensibilities of gentlemanliness. Hockey is a physical sport, not a refined sport. 6. Sports focused on resisting imported sports. Baggataway, a local sport is the national sport. The sport includes speed, skill, and violence. Baggatway was renamed Lacrosse. George Beers formulated the Lacrosse game rules ensure

Mobile Computing and Wireless Communications for Construction projects Assignment

Mobile Computing and Wireless Communications for Construction projects - Assignment Example For the entire human race their society went through a complete revolution with the emergence of information and communications technology just a few decades back. Construction and Management is one of the numerous fields that have been benefitted immensely by Information and Communications technology. Not only have the methods of construction been perfected by technology, the ability to communicate in the real time environment among locations physically located at far off places was a revolutionizing factor indeed. The present day construction companies’ scenario is such that highly specialized network infrastructure and special communication needs have become integral for their survival. This is owing to the intricate and advanced nature of the projects that have been taken up by the technology equipped construction companies. The general infrastructure is such that the main hub or the headquarters of the construction company is located in a main city. This construction hub is equipped with the smartest telecommunication technologies so as to remain perfectly in contact with construction points at spread out physical locations. Some construction points may be this far that they may not lie under any physical wired private or public networks or even wireless network coverage area. These construction site offices are often present at the termination of the area that is being constructed. The activities within the entire construction area may be far off from the construction office sites and construction may continue sometimes even for months and years. The movements of staff and managers between ‘different sites’ and ‘between the headquarter and sites’ are intermittent and take place at regular intervals. The terrain of the construction sites is often such that the land is physically irregular with ongoing digging and other groundwork. It is under such circumstances that the

Essay --

Naturalism in Literature Naturalism is the literary movement that directly followed, and was born from, the Realistic Movement. Unlike Realism, which focused on the middle class, Naturalism focused on the lower class. The characters of naturalist writers were usually poor, disenfranchised, living in impoverished conditions and struggling to survive hardships. This is how naturalism is explained according to The American Novel, â€Å"While it is strongly associated with realism, in the shared emphasis on depicting surface reality, naturalism is more than a literary technique, involving as it does the philosophy of determinism. Naturalism is antiromantic in emphasizing the limited ability of humans to impose will upon their own destiny, and also in devaluing the imagination's embellishment of reality. For the naturalist, it is the duty of the writer to present to the reader reality without illusion, to offer a scientific, detached view of it rather than to adorn or mislead or simply please the reader† (Matterson). Naturalism also focuses on nature and how humans are subject to the laws on nature. Naturalists believed that circumstances were what controlled your life. The belief was that your environment is what determined the rest of your life or who or what would become of you. In Crane’s The Open Boat the story is a perfect model for naturalism because of the way it pessimistically depicts life. The four men in the story are at the mercy of the natural setting of the sea. Nature is portrayed as heartless and unsympathetic toward the circumstances of men. The characters of the story are not given supernatural powers to fight and win against nature as they would have been given in romanticism. The motif of the story seems to be ... ...y similarities. Both forms were reactions to and against Romanticism. They both try to simulate and parallel real life and both were to uncover and unmask the social ills and bigotries of society. These bigotries not only related to racial divides but also classism. Naturalism, which is an offshoot of Realism, focused more on the underprivileged and lower classes because Realism seemed to have left this group out. Naturalism also focused more on the power of nature and the environment, whereas Realism focused more on the characters. Naturalists often left their characters unnamed to ensure the focal point was the conditions or surroundings and not the people. Naturalisms themes are despair, cruelty of nature and how uncaring it is about people. The characters in naturalism often end up dying with lengthy periods of reflection of life before the death occurs.

Gun Control: If not now, when? Essay

The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that gun for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. When it comes to protecting freedom, Americans, including those on the Supreme Court, recognize that personal liberties must often be modified for the safety and protection of others. Yet today’s gun rights advocates constantly cite the Second Amendment of the Constitution, the right to bear arms, when threatened by attempts to limit, but not eliminate, modern-day weapons. Piggybacking on this idea is our right to free speech; it is frequently regulated through obscenity and decency laws. Slander, libel, pornography; we are silenced all of the time. Our rights to assembly and religion are compromised in the process, however. The debate over gun control continues to plague our country. On one side, there is the National Rifle Association (NRA) and 2nd Amendment-citing citizens w ho use their firearms for hunting and self-defense. On the other, there is the Handgun Control Inc. (HCI) and followers of the Brady Campaign who want to ban guns on the basis that they are dangerous. The Brady Administration passed a bill that requires individuals seeking to buy a gun at a licensed dealer pass a background check. Because guns are especially lethal weapons, it makes sense that before someone can own one, he or she meets the legal requirements for ownership. This simple step protects everyone, gun owners and non-gun owners, from the danger of high-risk people gaining access to lethal weapons. Both sides have strong arguments, anchored in historical precedent and statistical analysis. Anti-gun control lobbyists’ arguments include the guarantee of the 2nd Amendment, the definition of â€Å"militia† as any adult male, self-defense, the relative uselessness of permits and regulations, and court cases in favor of firearm possession. Pro-gun control activists argue using the survival of the 2nd Amendment, the traditional definition of â€Å"militia† a s a government-authorized army, the multitude of gun-related deaths, the need for stronger regulations, and the example England has set with their ban of handguns. Opponents of gun control legislation often cite the 2nd Amendment, which states that â€Å"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†. This portion of the Bill of Rights has been repeatedly upheld by court cases in the Senate and House of Representatives. On June 26, 2008, the Supreme Court ruled through District of Columbia vs. Heller that â€Å"the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.† in a 5-4 vote. Despite all of the incidents during the past decade and a half, Americans have, in general, become less likely to say that the country needs stricter gun control laws. In February 1999, the last poll before the Columbine shooting, 60% of Americans said the nation needed stricter gun control laws. Within days of Columbine, an April 26-27 survey showed a slight increase to 66% in 1999. From that point on, the â€Å"more strict† percentage began to decline. It fell below 50% for the first time in October 2008. Last year it was 43% in October, the lowest it’s ever been. Gun control is a vital necessity to the welfare of our nation. For example, even President Obama is strongly advocating changes to gun control. On Wednesday, January 16, he proposed background checks on all gun sales and bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines as part of a plethora of steps to reduce gun violence as a result of the Newtown school massacre last month. With relatives of some of the 20 children killed in the Connecticut rampage watching, Obama signed 23 executive actions (presidential decrees that don’t require congressional approval), to strengthen existing gun laws and take related steps on mental health and school safety. He also forcingly encouraged Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, to restrict ammunition magazines to no more than 10 rounds, and expand background checks to anyone buying a gun, whether at a stores, private sales, auctions, or gun shows. Many people out there are supporting the â€Å"anti- gun control cause† with the excuse of self-defense. Not everyone will acquire a gun for self-defense. Some feel that having a gun is a sign of power. One of the bigger ambitions that one has is to obtain power; the easier it is to get a gun, the faster a criminal will gain that â€Å"power† over an innocent, non-gun-wielding person. When one is in possession of a gun, that person has complete control of their actions and may act upon the weapon however the person pleases, even if they know that their actions will cause harm to defenseless people. There are many deaths caused by guns that could have been potentially stopped by controlling the ownership o f guns. There’s no technical definition of an â€Å"assault weapon†, however there are fully-automatic weapons, which fire continuously when the trigger is held down. These have been strictly regulated since 1934. Then, there are semi-automatic weapons that reload automatically but fire only once each time the trigger is pulled. Semiautomatic pistols and rifles come in all shapes and sizes and are extremely common in the United States. Congress didn’t want to ban all semiautomatic weapons, because that would ban most guns in this country. So, while writing the 1994 ban, lawmakers focused on 18 specific firearms, as well as certain military-style attachments. Certain models of AR-15’s and AK-47’s were banned, along with any semi-automatic rifle with a pistol grip or bayonet mount. But, a semi-automatic rifle with just a pistol grip was okay. Its presentation and word choice was complicated, however, and this made it easy to evade. For the 10 years that the ban was in effect, it was illegal to manufacture the assault weapons described above for use by private citizens as well. The law also set a limit of 10 rounds on high-capaci ty magazines. As in almost every legal document or decree, there was an important loophole. Any assault weapon or magazine that was manufactured before the law went into effect in 1994 was perfectly legal to own or sell. At the time, there were about 1.5 million assault weapons and more than 24 million high-capacity magazines owned by normal citizens. An anonymous gentleman was once quoted saying: â€Å"Dangerous laws created by well-intentioned people today, can be used by dangerous people with evil intentions tomorrow†. It is understood that there may be different points of view on everything from everyone. Eppers’ quote could be interpreted in two different ways, but the way most see it is in favor of gun control. The well-intentioned people are the people out there trying to allow others to own a gun in order to use it as a self-defense tool, while the â€Å"people with evil intentions† are the criminals or mentally disturbed citizens that use guns because they were brainw ashed to kill. If the well-intentioned people were to go against gun control and ban gun laws, this decree would make guns accessible to everyone. Whenever a criminal decides that he or she wants to assault someone, they will be able to do so readily. Once gun control is taken away, violence will increase. People will have the ability to walk around daily with guns, which will in turn cause more deaths and violence. If gun control laws such as banning of assault rifles, mandatory registration of all firearms, and thorough background checks prior to each sale are strongly implemented however, hopefully this will cut down on the availability of guns to criminals and mentally disabled citizens, thus limiting ease of access and dropping the number of injuries, deaths, and tragedies overall, such as the recent Newtown, Connecticut episode. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. â€Å"National Rifle Association (NRA) Statistics – Statistic Brain.† 2012 Statistic Brain Research Institute; Statistic Brain. 2/23/12 http://www.statisticbrain.com/national-rifle-association-nra-statistics/ [ 2 ]. â€Å"Gun Control – 210 Carefully Selected Quotations Divided into 8 Sections†. Compilation Copyright  © MCR Agency, LLC, 12/27/11 http://www.quotations.com/gun_control.htm