Land mines. This is a highly debatable and touchy subject in many circles. Some people believe that land mines are helpful, and others take the opposing side insisting that land mines are harmful. Personally, I hold the view that governments should ban land mines. However, I believe that both sides hold valid points and make legitimate arguments. Both views have a common goal. The goal is to better the economy of their own country and to keep the people of their nation safe and alive. It is unnecessary to fight over this issue, if both sides desire to achieve the same goal. I am sure that there must be something that these two viewpoints can agree upon to better themselves and their countries.
Although I do not believe that land mines should remain legal, there are some very educated and intelligent people who may disagree with me. One of these persons is Alexander Deane. Mr. Deane is a well-respected author and a World Universities Debating Champion. He also earned a Masters degree in International Relations as a Rotary Scholar at Griffith University, a feat that is very difficult and very reputable. According to Deane, landmines boast obvious military benefits. Some of these benefits include that they are easy to deploy, and they can force the enemy to take a different and less likeable approach. One of the most valid points that Mr. Deane makes is that land mines can actually save lives. The way that they can save lives is through guarding land and specific areas so that soldiers do not have to guard those areas and possibly lose their lives over it. The land mines will inconspicuously protect the area, and therefore save the lives of soldiers. Land mines can also be used as land borders to separate large armies or warring nations (Deane 1-2). There are obvious advantages to land mines being legal.
However, I feel that the advantages of banning land mines far outweigh the advantages of them being legal. According to a study done in 1997, land mines...