Them’s fightin’ words!
There are some strong statements being made here, and I think they deserve some attention. For better or worse, here I go.
First, political reasons for gun control. It is sick to me that “politicians” would use something like this to hop into an office, but I would say I might have to agree. Politicians are using issues like gun control (abortion, drugs, “hot” topics, etc.) to try and bully their way into office. Why do we allow this? It actually greatly upsets me that everyone complains about “how bad politicians are” but never do anything. Hey, buddy, the vote is in your hand. Are you willing to use it?
Anyways, so we have established that, yeah, some politicians will use this. However, this is not all the pro-gun control activists. In fact, I doubt I would say these is the majority. These are just the ones we hear more about. I think before we go prancing about and pointing fingers, we should look at all the arguments and the people making the arguments.
As far as anti-gun control, I’ll go with what was said as the majority argument is normally about the infringement on constitutional rights. In fact, the rant basically says this. However, I have to completely disagree. And so does the United States Constitution and the Supreme Court. Allow me to provide details.
The second amendment reads:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the rights of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
This amendment is talking about the National Guard and the people who manned it. You have to keep in mind while reading this that the Militia’s of the day were people who came together, often times bringing their own weapons to the groups. If they could not bear arms, they would have none to contribute.
As far as the Supreme Court ruling’s go, investigate these cases:
United States v. Cruikshank
Pressner v. Illinois
Miller v. Texas
U.S. v. Miller
Lewis v. United States
Quilici v. The Village of Morton Grove
Farmer v. Higgins
This does not say whether or not we should have this right–what this is saying, however, invalidates the arguments presented by those who would use it, including this rant. By having gun control, it will not “be the downfall of the American constitution as we know it.” Because the wording of the amendment and the rulings of the Supreme Court do not support this.
Is gun control a worthy cause?
To some extent. But I think this bigger issue at hand here is not “the right to bear arms.” It is the unwritten law that in America it is okay to murder someone. This is, whether or not you want to admit it, an unwritten law. How many murders happen in a single day? How many attempted? How many people are actually “punished” for what they did? And why are we bothering punishing–we put someone in a cell and maybe even let them go after a period of time. What we need to do is focus on the problem. Self worth. Real education. Happiness.
Oh, and Nazi Germany will not come from gun control. But it will come from the people, if we allow it.
Some interesting sites:
http://www.constitution.org/mil/rkba1982.htm
http://www.sportingsolutions.com/thesecond.html
http://www.speakout.com/Activism/guncontrol/