Enlglish Component: A Long Way Gone Ethics

Ethics of Weapon Development:

I don't find any morality in developing weapons without a good reason because cannons are only good for destruction and harming others. The only time cannon would be beneficial to society is if it would terminate a specific person/group who is trying to bring harm to many innocent people. Even then, when planning to use a cannon there should be a thought out plan so there is a less of a chance that possibly thousands of innocent civilians will be killed. I think that unless cannons are being used, they should be locked up to prevent the deaths of many innocent people. Killing people used to be a skill that came with years of practice, and even then very few people could be killed at a time by using a sword or bow. Now, all it takes is some aim and the capability to pull a trigger. Now, there is practically no skill needed to kill someone, or a large group of people.

A great example of how weapons only bring harm and chaos to many people is in A Long Way Gone. Ishmael Beah, along with countless other child soldiers, were forced to use disastrous weapons such as grenades and AK-47s. During the Sierra Leone War, hundreds of thousands of innocent people were killed. Drugs, war movies, and other surrounding influences made the boys have no other choice but to ruin their lives, and many others, to live. While the drugs temporarily made them emotionless killing machines, after they had been removed from the war  the soldiers' lives were changed forever by what they've seen and done. As I have said above, it was easy for Ishmael to kill people because there was really no skill involved. Not much training was required and he still shamelessly killed thousands with ease because they didn't know any better. Ishmael and other soldiers had become so brain washed that killing became a second nature.

In conclusion, I am generally against the use and creation of weapons unless there is a specific, good, reason that in the end will help mankind.