The Importance Of Gun Protection For American Citizens

Protection for American Citizens

Firearms have always played a major role in the American way of life. There is no other country on earth that has such a rich history in bearing arms. However, in the twenty-first century, many Americans may have mixed thoughts and feelings on how to behave towards this basic Constitutional right. Some may even have the absurd opinion that enacting laws that regulate, prohibit, or prevent the purchase and use of firearms will benefit the United States, particularly shootings. This belief is based upon the thought that both law-abiding citizens and criminals will follow the law. This is not the case. *The question that everyone must ask themselves* is should we include additional gun control laws in response to an increase in mass shootings in America? To fully understand todays perception of gun control, it is necessary to take a step back in time to when the United States was a collection of colonies. “The use of firearms in the late 1700s was a thing of necessity; colonists had to use guns to feed themselves and their families, as well as defend themselves.” (Sommers, Michael A. The Right to Bear Arms. 1st Edition ed. New

York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2001. Print) Our Founding Fathers lived with this principle, and recognized its importance, by including it in the Bill of Rights. “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.” (Second Amendment - U.S. Constitution." Findlaw.com. Thomson Reuters, n.d. Web. 03 April. 2013.) These words make up the Second Amendment, and have been perplexing scholars for many years, due to two radically different beliefs. The two viewpoints are: does the right to bear arms belong to individuals, or does it belong collectively to members of a militia? An answer was released to the public in 2004 by the Attorney General in a memorandum opinion. It concluded that, “The Second Amendment secures a right of individuals generally, not a right of the States or a right restricted to persons serving in militias.”” (Roleff, 62) If thought upon logically, this ruling makes perfect sense. The Bill of Rights was a document created specifically “To protect the basic rights of Americans--rights which each person possesses and that are guaranteed...by any government” "The Second Amendment." NRAILA RSS. National Rifle Association of America, 21 Apr.

2009. Web. 14 March. 2013). What foresight our Founding Father’s had to ensure our basic rights of speech, religion, and the use of firearms! Still, there is a large-scale argument over the word “militia” in the Second Amendment. Back in the 1700s, the term militia refers to the “male population capable of bearing arms.” Gun control opponents say this is proof enough for everyone to keep and bear arms. This evidence is further enforced by the ruling of Congress in present-day America. In 2005, Congress passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to end the threat of lawsuits working towards breaking down Americas firearm industry. It starts off by listing specific facts that go to the heart of the matter. “Congress finds the following: (1) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution provides the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. (2) The Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution protects the rights of individuals, including those who are not members of a militia or engaged in military service or training, to keep and bear arms.” ("The Second Amendment." NRAILA RSS. National Rifle Association of America, 21 Apr. 2009. Web. 14 March. 2013.) It is indisputable that the law of the land says that individuals have the right of the Second Amendment, and all other Amendments written in the Bill of Rights. "Gun control" is the popular name for laws that regulate, limit or prohibit the purchase and possession of firearms.” In a utopian society,

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The Importance Of Gun Protection For American Citizens

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