The Second Amendment can be interpreted
in many ways much like any law or rule; however the way it has been interpreted
by so many for so long is the right to bear arms. In The
Right to bear Arms The Second Amendment is noted as “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” (p39). Now if anyone
truly understands what can happen during an uprising, and the needs to be able
defend ourselves it was our founding fathers. Although we are in a different
time then they were I believe this right still needs to be respected and abided
by as at anytime we can again face the threat of an invasion of our enemies. Now
more than ever there are terrorists living amongst us just waiting for us to be
defenseless. So do I feel that we as Americans should have the right to bear
arms? Yes I do.
I never owned a gun until I got married
and my husband and I bought a house together. Upon unpacking my husband
unpacked his rifle and I was very concerned with how I felt about this large
gun I knew could kill me. After talking about it with my husband I learned a
lot about the gun and now feel more comfortable with it in my house. Knowing
that should someone break into my house I have protection to defend my family makes
me feel secure. My husband works as a golf course superintendent in The
Villages, which is roughly 57 miles from my house. He has to be at work by 5am
every morning so he is up and out of the house usually by 3:45am, and he doesn’t
return sometimes until after dark depending upon his scheduled actives. So I am
left home alone with my daughter majority of the time. Being a petite woman
doesn’t make me feel very safe to protect my family and I have to agree with
the group of female state legislators who argued, “that armed women are better
able to protect ourselves” (Schwartz,
E. (2008, p39). My home is also protected with a security alarm system;
however the cops are not alerted until I either ask for help over the intercom
or I do not answer; therefore it would be quite a bit of time until someone
could come rescue my daughter and I.
I grew up in Florida and my family hunts
year round so I have always been exposed to guns. I have shot handguns and
rifles and I enjoy it. My belief that we Americans deserve the right to bear
arms comes from an understanding that the people who are bearing them are being
responsible. I feel that if we are to keep the law as it is then we should
administer better regulations such as background checks, registering the firearm
and mandatory safety course to educated all gun owners. Everything is good in
moderation and I believe that this is another aspect of the regulations that
should be enforced. There should be a stricter law on the amounts of firearms
owned as well as the caliber of the gun. I do not feel that anyone other than
our military should own automatic machine guns or any other gun that could
potentially due more harm then simple defending of ones self or hunting wild
game.
After reading chapter 12 of LaFollette
(2007) I feel he is onto something good with this idea he presents “I propose
we make handgun owners (and perhaps all gun owners) strictly liable for harm
caused by the use of their guns” (p 194). This is a fabulous idea because I do foresee
this would impact a lot of the unnecessary irresponsible fatalities and crimes
that occur with guns. Lately in the news it is evident now more than ever we
need safer gun laws after the most recent tradegy in Newtown. I felt outragesd
that a child obtained his mother’s guns so easily, and then used them brutally
murdered at least 20 small innocent children. Because of my ill feelings I am
convinced it is not the guns that kill people its people that kil people
through reckless behaviors. Parents need to educate their children and spend
more time with them so that they can identify these mental issue and try to
prevent any unfortunate events to follow. From what I have learned the boy who
murdered the children, teachers, his mom and then himself was suffering from
mental health issues that went unresolved. If we can enact regulations that can
prohibited any guns ownership within potential dangerous environments this may
help to get these weapons form being easy accessible to people who definitely
need extra attention on their issues.
Things can happen regardless of laws and
this is a known fact. We try to protect the world trade center from bombs after
the early 90s attack, but you cant prepare to prevent a plane from flying into the
building. It is apparent that the more laws we enforce the more creative the
criminals and terrorists become so why not develop stricter regulations in
order to provide our law abiding healthy citizens to protect themselves?
References:
Schwartz, E. (2008, March 17). The
Right to Bear Arms – Cover Story p38. Retrieved from:
LaFollette,
H. (2007). The practice of ethics. Malden, MA: Wiley- Blackwell.
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