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.” The second amendment to the United States Constitution is one that couldn’t be clearer. Despite the fact of the obvious language of the 2nd amendment the right for American citizens to bear arms is being taken away one “gun control” law at a time. Our forefathers built this country by the use of weapons to break free from the British power. Owning and using weapons is embedded into our culture and something that shouldn’t be taken away. Letting citizens have the power to bear arms is what makes this country great compared to countries that don’t let their citizens bear arms like that of China. The proliferation of gun control laws is unconstitutional, hurting our culture and hindering citizens’ self-defense.
The roots of gun control run deep. The first law trying to ban handguns was passed in 1837 but was then ruled unconstitutional. In 1865 the “black codes” were adopted, these laws kept African Americans from owning guns or any sort of “weapon”. The purpose of these laws was to install fear in African Americans and keep them from having any power. In 1871 the National Rifle Association (NRA) was created. This organizations original purpose was to increase citizen’s marksmanship in preparation for war. Now it has blossomed into a wide spreading organization that fights for gun rights and also provides firearm safety and training. The National Firearms Act of 1934 was passed and was one of the first major gun control laws. This act is regulated on class 3 weapons such as fully automatic weapons. This started a high tax on firearm transactions and firearm registration. There has been a proliferation of gun control laws the past few decades and now there are around 20,000 different laws regulating on American citizen’s right to bear arms! How many more laws will suffice? These laws keep growing and there is currently a bill in the Washington State Senate to start a ban on “assault rifles”. These new bills keep suppressing the rights of American citizens.
America is a gun owning nation. It is deeply embedded into our culture. Throughout the United States there are thousands of gun clubs that keep this culture alive. Gun ownership is passed through families and is a bond that keeps some families together. The proliferation of gun control laws is slowly deteriorating this culture. Only 40 states grant citizens the right to have concealed weapon permits. These permits grant citizens that ability to carry firearms on their person. To get a concealed weapons permit you are put through a background check and a firearms safety test. Citizens that have acquired a concealed weapons permit are law abiding citizens. Why not let these citizens carry guns, they are a helpful instrument in crime prevention. Many firearm laws put restrictions on what type of guns can be bought and sold. In 1994 President Clinton signed in a bill that put a ban on civilian ownership of assault weapons, it was called the Clinton Gun Ban. This bill restricted the sale of 19 types of assault weapons. Only eight people between 1997 and 1998 were prosecuted for violating the assault weapons ban showing how unnecessary it was. In 2004 this bill expired and has yet to be reenacted. Because of this, many state governments are passing laws that outlaw assault rifles in their own state such as California has. These bills go beyond what is reasonable and work to ban as many weapons as possible; causing many law abiding citizens to become possible felons. These bills also put a stop to family tradition by halting the buying of new firearms. If there has been an assault rifle passed down in a family, it can no longer be passed down. It has to be dismantled or turned into local law enforcement. This also hinders the ability to train using these firearms. Continuing the addition of more gun control laws will make this culture
the Bill of Rights, and identifying different amendments within the document, sounds pretty dull. However, the Bill of Rights gives every American his or her freedoms and limitations, while listing specific prohibitions on governmental power. That being said, it is important to know exactly what your rights are, especially when the subject comes to gun control. What is the Bill of Rights and how does it actively pertain to daily lives in the 21st century? Written in 1776 and later added to the Constitution…
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. * Freedom of Religion * Freedom of Speech * Freedom of Press * Right to peaceable assemble * Right to petition the government for redress of grievances * Amendment 2 - A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the…
The Second Amendment reads: “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.” These words have generated considerable controversy as part of the broader debate over gun control. Proponents of stricter controls generally contend that the amendment was meant to protect the collective right of states to maintain militia units. Their opponents respond that the amendment was intended to protect an individual…
interference.” -Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States of America. As Jefferson says the Bill of rights was created to protect and obtain the rights of American people and prevent our rights from being violated by the government. In present time some of our rights are being bended and molded by the government to seem as though they are not being violated when they really are. The First Amendment (I) of the United States of America’s Bill of Rights: “Congress shall make no law respecting…
Conor O’Donnell Mr. Cordisco English-1 6 November 2014 Gun Control its a construal crime Gun control in the United States has been a controversial issue for some time now. It’s been such a while that even the Supreme Court refuses to directly address this issue. This issue requires the knowledge about the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment states that people have their rights to bear arms. Over the past years, debates have continued to dictate Congress over the efficacy and if, according to…
S. Constitution. The amendment states: “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.” Many argue that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to own guns, and that the government should not restrict this right. Others say that the amendment was meant to apply to states’ rights, rather than individual rights. They argue that gun ownership in the United States contributes to high levels of violent…
10 Amendments Preamble Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine. THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure…
balancing act. In the United States, gun control is one of these tumultuous issues that has both sides firmly entrenched in their positions. Those parties in favor of gun ownership and the freedom to use and keep arms, rely on the fact that the provision for such rights is enshrined in their constitution. In this climate of growing violence, rife with turmoil and crime, gun advocates feel more than ever that their position is justified. As citizens of the “Land of the Free” possessing a gun is a fundamental…
The Founding Fathers fresh off their victory over the British enshrined in the American Bill of Rights the right of its citizens to bear arms. “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 right was taken for granted for nearly 150 years until several high profile crimes were committed with “assault style weapons.” Now a passionate debate swirls around the second amendment. The main question…
Emmanuel Ogunji 10/27/13 Pro!!! Gun Control You probably have heard this saying before, “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”, since it’s part of the second Amendment. However, people do not understand that this Amendment is wiping out our fellow innocent citizens. Some people…