Critical Response Essay

You should write a one page essay for each of the following 2 questions. Your essays should be double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-point font. If possible, print on both sides of one sheet of paper. If not, staple two pages together. Don’t use a cover page or any sort of binder or folder. The top of each page should include your name, the date, and your section number. You don’t need a title and don’t rewrite the question. Give sources you found in papers for each question

1. Last week, a 19-year-old former student entered a high school in Florida and killed 17 people using an AR-15 assault rifle. Incidents like this one have been happening in the U.S. with alarming frequency since the 1999 murders at Columbine High School.

If you were a member of Congress and a Utilitarian, what sort of legislation would you propose to prevent these tragedies? How would you explain your reasoning to your fellow members of Congress?

2. For the last several months, a number of famous and powerful men (and at least one woman) have been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault. At the same time, many other famous people have been accused of knowing that the harassment and assaults were taking place but failing to speak out to defend the victims.

If you were a Deontologist, and you knew that these incidents were taking place, would you feel obligated to speak out? Explain why or why not using the Categorical Imperative.