First of all, when the framers of the Bill of Rights wrote the second Amendment, which reads, "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", they did not have AR-15s in mind. They were firing single-shot muskets and slow-loading shotguns at the time, and could not have imagined the destructive power of our current firearms.
Ok, so how about this: People have the right to keep and bear the arms the founding fathers used. That means no more M-16s. No more AKs, no more sniper rifles, and no more handguns in the hands of the private citizenry. Legally, we should only be allowed to buy flintlock muskets with separate powder and ammunition. That is solidly defended under the Bill of Rights, and even I might support that.
Secondly, George Washington once wrote, "A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined." I can accept the premise that people already are used to the right to high-tech weaponry, and I know that no legislation, no matter how strong, can ever change that, but shouldn't we follow the first president's advice and be disciplined about guns? This would mean that you can't show up to a presidential speech armed to the teeth (which is probably the stupidest thing anyone could do; if the secret service sees you packing heat, YOU are the one who will end up dead).
Guns are not toys... they are tools for professionals. If you want to play with deadly weapons, join the military and at least get paid for it. We have to learn that the right to own a gun is a very serious right, not one to be taken lightly. But I suppose the urge to overcompensate for personal insecurities will almost always dominate, and Americans will continue to buy and misuse guns.
Ok, so how about this: People have the right to keep and bear the arms the founding fathers used. That means no more M-16s. No more AKs, no more sniper rifles, and no more handguns in the hands of the private citizenry. Legally, we should only be allowed to buy flintlock muskets with separate powder and ammunition. That is solidly defended under the Bill of Rights, and even I might support that.
Secondly, George Washington once wrote, "A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined." I can accept the premise that people already are used to the right to high-tech weaponry, and I know that no legislation, no matter how strong, can ever change that, but shouldn't we follow the first president's advice and be disciplined about guns? This would mean that you can't show up to a presidential speech armed to the teeth (which is probably the stupidest thing anyone could do; if the secret service sees you packing heat, YOU are the one who will end up dead).
Guns are not toys... they are tools for professionals. If you want to play with deadly weapons, join the military and at least get paid for it. We have to learn that the right to own a gun is a very serious right, not one to be taken lightly. But I suppose the urge to overcompensate for personal insecurities will almost always dominate, and Americans will continue to buy and misuse guns.
"A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined."
ReplyDeleteThis is very true, but we can't change it. Ever. At least, until the world ends. There will always be bad guys out there. And if we sensibly decide to give away, not use, or be "founding father"-like about them, that will just make us easier targets for the burglars and murderers out there. So, as long as crime exists, paranoid fathers will continue to own Glocks.
I actually agree, but I suspect I am naively hopeful that we can at least reduce the amount of gun violence in this country by just using a little common sense. Guns are, like it or not, a part of this country's culture... But still, bringing that AR-15 to the Obama rally was just a silly thing to do.
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