In the book, The Right to Bear Arms (Louis 2018) I learned that the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788 and began with the opening phrase, ¨We the People.¨ The phrase tells of us the governance by and for the citizens of the United States. The Constitution lays out the laws and framework of the government and describes the basic rights of U.S. citizens. In 1789, amendments were sent by officials who wanted further promises and 10 of those were passed to the states. These 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights. One of these amendments was the Second Amendment which gave citizens the right to bear arms. This right would then set the stage for over 200 years of debate.
The debate over gun rights in America is ongoing in our modern world and can be seen in classrooms, courtrooms, etc. It stays relevant especially when school shootings and similar crimes occur in the news where there is a gun in question. Some Americans are gun rights advocates who believe in the 2nd Amendment, the right to bear arms and concealed carry. Other Americans are gun control advocates who believe the right to bear arms only promotes violence. I personally am for the right to bear arms. I believe guns are essential to protect our freedom and personal safety. I don’t believe guns are the issue rather it is the people behind them. Some ways we can prevent violence in the first place is by teaching proper gun safety, background checks and identifying mental health issues at early ages. If proper gun handling and safety is taught to American people, gun accidents would be less likely to occur. By incorporating background checks for the purchase of firearms , criminals won’t have access to these firearms and use them for crime. But what about criminals that have been released from prison? Should these individuals who are trying to turn their life around be denied their right to bear arms because of their past? I believe there should be a system in place to prevent their rights from being taken away as long as they prove themselves to be a changed person. Furthermore, by identifying mental health issues at early ages we can get people the help they need to live happier lives and prevent them from making poor decisions possible hurting those around them.
Do you support the right to bear arms and what are your thoughts on preventing gun violence in America?
Louis, David. 2018. The Right to Bear Arms. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
