2Nd Amendment Argument Essay, Research Paper
Pro 2nd Amendment 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. 2nd Amendment- Numerous arguments have been circulating throughout the public since the 2nd amendment was ratified, mainly concerning the terminology used by our forefathers. What exactly did they mean when they said, militia? The popular belief is that militia is referring to the group of military personnel, which is correct in today s language. However, back in the late 1770 s when the Constitution was ratified, the word militia was drawn from the whole body of the people. It was dependent on the individual right to keep and bear arms to even exist. (Website #1) This means that all US citizens, not just army personnel, have the inalienable right to own a firearm. It has been said that well-tailored gun laws can have a beneficial impact on gun violence, but studies have shown without a doubt that more fatalities occur with gun control laws active than without. In an investigation done by the National Safety Council, firearm-related deaths were ranked seventh amongst other accidental deaths. 1. Motor vehicles: 43,200 deaths2. Falls: 14,900 deaths3. Poisoning by solids or liquids: 8,600 deaths4. Drowning: 4,000 deaths5. Fires, burns and related deaths: 3,700 deaths6. Suffocation by swallowing objects: 3,3007. Firearms-related: 1,5008. Poisoning by gases and vapors: 700 deaths9. All other causes (including medical misadventures ): 13,900Total: 93,800 deaths Motor vehicle related deaths are the number one type of death in the US. If firearms are ranked only seventh, shouldn t we be creating new laws making it harder to acquire automobiles? Other studies done by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission show that gun related activities cause less trips to the emergency room than activities such as volleyball, baseball, in-line skating, horse-back riding, and skateboarding. Obviously, people have a handle on responsible gun use without any obnoxious gun control laws. Opposing views on the 2nd Amendment convey the point that since gun control has been introduced, robbery and murder rates have plummeted. This is true, but for other reasons. Department of Justice data show those areas of the country where firearms are more readily available have a lower violent crime rate than areas of minimal firearm ownership. (Website #1) It has also been shown through many different studies that at times when gun ownership increases, aggravated assault, rape and murder rates decrease dramatically. Criminals don t obey gun laws, so when citizens follow gun-control procedures, they are left defenseless. This could be avoided by either changing or abolishing gun control laws.
How would a 5-day waiting period help a stalking victim? How would banning affordable firearms protect the poor from neighborhood criminals? Would prohibiting your mother from carrying a gun help her to escape a rapist, or help your son repel an attacker? Would keeping your gun unloaded and locked up save you from a home invader? Would keeping you from owning semiautomatic firearms stop a criminal from getting any gun he wants? (Website #1)The point is that disarming victims increases violent crime. Many famous figures such as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Adams, George Mason, and Daniel Webster have promoted the right and freedom to bear arms. One common argument used by these figures is that firearms restrain evil and protect. Thomas Jefferson supported the 2nd Amendment by saying, No man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is to protect themselves Others such as John Adams defend the Constitution by saying, Arms in the hands of citizens [may] be used at individual discretion…in private defense. (Website #2) Not only are our forefathers pro-2nd Amendment, but so is federal Judge Sam R. Cummings, who recently ruled that the 2nd Amendment protects an individuals right to keep and bear arms. Cummings related the amendment to the English Bill of Rights, stating that, while English law allowed weapons suitable to a person s condition as allowed by law , the American right forbade any infringement upon the right of people to keep and bear arms. (Website #3) Other parts of Cumming s ruling discussed the unconstitutionality of limitation upon arms control by the states and how the 2nd amendment should be treated as any other amendment, as a liberty and a privilege of the American people. As it is our duty, we must spread an awareness throughout the US that all citizen of the United States of America have an inalienable right, which provides them with the liberty of owning and bearing a firearm. We encourage safety while operating firearms, and believe in the use of guns for defense and sport. We are solely committed to raising awareness of the role of privately armed citizens in a free society, and to educating the public and legal profession about the same. Citizens need to get involved in any way possible, so that the true interpretation and liberty of the 2nd Amendment may be understood and utilized by all who choose to.