Second Amendment:
What Are The Facts?
Guest Opinion, by Heather Smith. October 19, 2020
Article Source
What is it?
In the United States, about 22% of the population owns at least one gun. That is about 393,347,000 guns.
America’s gun culture can be traced from its colonial history, insurgency roots, land expansion, and the Second Amendment. The Second 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.”
To better understand the importance of the Second Amendment, let us take a deeper look at the definition of terms. What is a militia? By definition of Oxford, it is “a military force that is raised from the civil population to supplement a regular army in an emergency”.
Once the government is compromised, its citizens should still be able to defend its freedom. This is the most important right our founding fathers gave us. Should there be a tyrannical government or invaders threatening the country - the people of the United States could fight back for the freedom our forefathers left us with.
Why is it important to us?
1. The Second Amendment of the US Constitution protects individual gun ownership
Gun ownership has been part of the American tradition way before the country was even established. This is the reason why this practice has been protected by the Second Amendment.
With the right to own a gun, we are given the right to protect ourselves. This is as essential as our rights to free speech, free press, and freedom of religion. It is our right to be able to defend ourselves should there be invaders in our homes, criminals who would want to hurt us and our families. Self defense is a right our forefathers gifted us with.
2. Gun control laws do not stop crime; gun ownership stop crime
Criminals will never follow the laws, they will never adhere to gun control. So what could stop them from attacking someone? The fear of retaliation. The fear that this particular person they will attack could fire back, could do a counter-attack, could hurt them too. If there are more civilians who own guns for self protection, there will be greater chances and greater fear for criminals to attack.
Historically, even with the doubling of the gun ownership, the murder rate decreased. There is a saying that goes “If the guns are outlawed, only the outlaws will have guns”. Gun control will only prevent civilians from owning a tool for their self defence, but will not stop criminals from owning one.
3. Gun control laws directly violate the right to self-defense and deny people a sense of safety
In 2013, 48% of convicted felons said that they avoided victims who they knew were armed or were carrying guns. These clueless people were saved just by merely possessing a tool for self defense. Studies also show that 64% of people who reside in a house with a gun feel safer.
We can’t deny the fact the right to own and bear a gun is a self defence and secures us from criminals.
4. Gun control laws infringe upon the right to own guns for hunting and sport
The crimes which used guns have vilified this inanimate object throughout the course of time. Gun control laws prohibiting use of “assault weapons” are also prohibiting law abiding citizens to hunt and to use guns for sport. The second amendment argument has been going on for decades, and the easiest way anti-gun lawmakers found was to create a monster, a boogeyman, and a new term which could create panic and instil fear in people. Who wouldn’t be scared if someone says “An unknown person was seen with assault weapons”. “Assault weapons” - yes that is what these people call it when in fact it is nothing but a hunting rifle. Yes the look of the gun could be intimidating, but the mechanism is nothing but for hunting.
Sometimes, we tend to hate something without fully understanding the facts behind it.
5. Gun control laws can never stop criminals from owning guns
What does gun control secure? That the law abiding citizens could not exercise its right to own and bear arms. Again, as I said earlier, criminals would not follow these laws, that’s why they are lawbreakers. Only law abiding citizens will be affected and will be stripped off the right to self defence. They will find a way in the black market and in whatever way and world they can - criminals will still find a way to own a gun.
And where does that leave us? We, the law abiding citizens of the United States of America, will be defenseless and will be left to hope that our police force will be enough to help us 24/7. And we know this for a fact that this will not happen. No police officer will be around us to save all the time. It is our duty and right to defend ourselves and our loved ones.
To summarize the points I have raised, we must also understand that we could not abolish the Second Amendment. Each amendment that our forefathers laid out is essential to the existence of each other. The First Amendment is interlinked with the Second Amendment. The Tenth Amendment could not be possible without the First Amendment. This goes on and on. This only shows that we should not remove or deconstruct the Bill of Rights. They were designed to co-exist and support each other.
Advocates and gun owners in the United States are the champions of the Second Amendment. It is not only our privilege, but instead it is our right as citizens.There have been so many attempts to slowly diminish the important and vital rights and liberties set forth in the Bill of Rights by our Founding Fathers. The Second Amendment is the most attacked right now. I challenge you to educate yourself and as many people as possible regarding this topic. It is essential that we educate the younger generation on the true essence and purpose of the Second Amendment.
Listen to what people say but be educated enough to shed light to other people about this matter.
Author profile
Heather Smith is the Communications Manager at Sunday Scaries. She’s a composed copywriter and content strategist. She’s also a CBD advocate, promoting a healthy lifestyle free of stress and scaries.
