Are We TOO Free?

Klein, Joe. “Arms and the Unbalanced.” TIME 24 January 2011. Print. 20 September
        2011.

In “Arms and the Unbalanced,” author Joe Klein addresses problems surrounding too much freedom. He supports his argument using examples of treatment of the mentally insane and the right to bear firearms. He also makes his writing personal by including the story of congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the woman whose progress was observed by thousands after she and multiple others were shot by a schizophrenic man at a political rally.

Klein’s main intent is, at first, masked by his explanations of mental illness and gun laws. But he makes it very clear when, at the end, he says, “Beneath these two issues… lies a deeper one: Where does one draw the line between freedom and anarchy in a democratic society?” This, simply put, says that it is difficult to decide exactly how much freedom is TOO much. The article could be intended for any person in a country considered to be “free,” particularly the United States.

Klein supports his argument well. He begins with the history of mental illness. According to the article, most “mentally dangerous” people were sent to institutions in the 1950s. However, very few towns were willing to have these institutions in their backyards. Therefore in the 1960s, the huge number of mentally unstable people became a problem. Klein claims the American Civil Liberty Union, which supported legislature that does not allow mentally ill people to be sent to institutions like the type that were popular in the 1950s, is partially responsible for lack of mental illness programs today.

He also points blame on the National Rifle Association for pushing the right to bear arms individually in recent years, and (in an offhand way) the Supreme Court for ruling that local governments cannot set gun laws. He uses the powerful example of, “Loughner could simply walk into a gun store, buy his Glock and… He carried it into a political rally. And used it.”

Klein’s writing is very obviously biased. Throughout the article, he hints that freedoms surrounding mental illness and gun use are not stringent enough. He further supports these views by ending with the message that people today have “excessive liberties” and inferring that a balance must be reached.

Politicians have debated for years over just how much independence individuals should have. There will never be a set solution. Someone will always abuse the powers are given, while others will not use them enough. Unfortunately, there are people who threaten the rights of others every day. The best example is stated in the article - the man who used his freedom to buy a gun and then chose to kill people with it.

This topic interests me, but I don’t know if it would be a good one for me or anyone else to write an argumentative paper on. I’m not quite sure which side I support. Freedoms all really come down to individuals. I have never believed in people being punished for someone else’s wrongdoing. However, Klein makes some valid points in his argument that we might be just a little too free. Therefore, I find it hard to form an opinion on this matter. It would be a good subject for anyone who feels strongly about how much independence people should be allowed.