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I. INTRODUCTION:
The Second Amendment to the Constitution (Second Amendment) of the
United States of America(USA) is one of the most controversial. The
Second Amendment specifically grants that "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."
A central argument put forth by gun-control advocates is that since there
is no longer a "militia", that individuals should lose their rights to own a gun.
They often assert that the term "militia" should now be defined as each
state's National Guard or Reserves. On the other hand, anti gun control
advocates argue that the Second Amendment clearly states that the people
have the right to own and bear arms even if they are not part of an
organized militia.
II. ANTI GUN CONTROL ACTIVISTS VIEWS AND BASIS
Anti-gun control activists interpret the Second Amendment as saying that
any individual, whether he is in the military or not, should be allowed to own
15 firearms.
Anti-gun control activists believe that the constitutional right granted by
the Second Amendment should never be taken away. Thomas Jefferson
said, "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to bear arms
is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
20 An unknown author once said, "An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is
a subject."
Self-protection is one of the most common reasons for wanting to own
firearms. Anti-gun control activists believe that they have the right to
protect their family and their homes, two of the most important things in
25 life (A man's home is his castle). An unknown author said, "A gun in the hand
is better than a cop on the phone."
Anti-gun control activists believe that it unconstitutional to take away a
right that the Second Amendment specifically states shall not be taken
away["the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be
30 infringed"
Some citizens join organization, such as the NRA to show their support for
their right to keep and bear arms. Others show their support by donating to
organizations such as the NRA.
III. GUN CONTROL ACTIVISTS VIEWS AND BASIS
Gun control activists believe that ordinary law abiding citizens owning guns
make the country unsafe for everyone, especially children. Gun control
35 activists believe that guns kept in the home are unsafe, especially for
children. They often say that having guns in the home makes children more
susceptible to finding their parent's gun, and having a life-threatening
accident or attack.
Gun control activists cite the recent rise in shootings occurring in schools,
40 such as the infamous Columbine incident as an example of why guns should
not be kept in the home. An unknown author stated, "Gun control is not
about guns; it's about control".
Gun control activists believe that making it harder for ordinary law abiding
citizens to purchase guns(or even eliminating the right to own guns) would
45 make the United States a safer country for everyone to live in.
The long-term goal of Gun control activists appears to be to stop all citizens
from purchasing weapons, or at a minimum, make it more difficult to do so.
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V. CONCLUSION
The right to keep and bear arms is relentlessly attacked by those who
believe the Second Amendment provision that "the right of the people to
keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed" has no place in today's society.
No matter how long it may take, those in favor of the Second Amendment
will fight to keep what they believe to be their constitutional right to "keep
and bear arms".
On the other hand, gun control activists will do anything in their power to
have laws passed to infringe on and limit the rights granted by the Second
Amendment. The position of gun control activists is that harsh gun control
laws, strictly limiting our Second Amendment rights, will make the USA a
safer place to live.
Despite endless arguments and controversy, the struggle to liberally
interpret, or strictly limit the rights granted by the Second Amendment
seem certain to continue. The passion that this controversy brings out in its
advocates can best be described by a quote from Charlton Heston, former
head of the NRA. While raising an antique Sharps Rifle over his head at the
2000 NRA convention, he said that presidential candidate Al Gore would
take away his Second Amendment rights "from my cold, dead hands".