First I want to say that I am 16 ,I am a member of the firing line, my Dad is
Ruger Guy, and I am not pulling a John Holt.
The following is a copy of an editorial that I wrote for my english class. It was supposed to be on any topic of my choosing, but my english teacher didn't like it very much. However, my history teacher loved it.
The Great Debate
"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." Constitution of the United States of America, 2nd Amendment.
This single sentence has probably caused more controversy than any other in American history. The debate over the implementation of stricter gun control laws continues because the second amendment can be interpreted in so many different ways. Those opposed to new gun legislation are not necessarily gun owners, rather many are just supporting the constitution. Gun control advocates cite statistics of the number of people killed by gun violence, but what isn’t said is the number of lives saved by guns every year. Those who are opposed to guns also seem to "forget" that there are already over 40,000 gun control laws in place, many of which are not being enforced. What the gun control advocates also fail to acknowledge, or possibly just not investigate properly, is that most crimes involving guns are committed against people who are unarmed by people who own guns illegally.
The first step for anyone who wishes to discuss this issue is to read the United States Constitution and understand the way our forefathers designed this country. Countless people have stated that these writers should have clarified the meaning of the second amendment. However, we can assume, and rightly so based on the rest of this great document, that the second amendment was written the way that it was with a distinct purpose in mind. It was probably written with the intention that if it ever became an issue, which it most certainly has, a definite decision would have to be made. People can argue the point back and forth, but eventually a final decision will need to be handed down. When that time comes, all factors should be taken into account; especially the fact that the creators of this country supported the individual citizen’s right to own weapons. St. George Tucker wrote a treatise of American law, called the American Blackstone (based on Blackstone’s Commentaries ) in 1803. (Blackstone’s Commentaries was a treatise on British law written by Sir William Blackstone in order to accurately interpret the meaning of various laws.
It was the "handbook" for all lawyers practicing in the British and early American courts.) The American Blackstone was an interpretation of the American constitution that has been cited by the Supreme court in over forty different cases, from the time it was originally printed until present. If we wish to know what the second amendment meant at the time it was written, we should consult the American Blackstone. The second amendment, Tucker wrote, " may be considered as the true palladium of liberty….The right of self defense is the first law of nature." He also said that the government could never disarm "any person" because it could never become "Necessary and Proper", as the constitution says something must be for Congress to act. St. George Tucker must have shared the same views as the writers of the constitution because they never stated an objection to this interpretation.
In the United States there are over 65 million legal gun owners. A large number of these people own guns to protect themselves and their families. About 2.1 million lives are saved each year by people making use of their weapons. In interviews with many felons, researchers have found that the main reason burglars avoid occupied homes is that they are afraid of getting shot. Felons have said that they avoid breaking into houses late at night for this reason. Studies conducted by Dr. Gary Kleck, of Florida State University, show that 450,000 additional burglaries would occur each year in the United States if we had laws similar to those in England, which make owning a firearm practically impossible. The most common argument for gun control is "save our children", however, one hundred times more children die each year from swimming pool accidents than from gun related incidents. Should we outlaw swimming pools?
Those people who wish to prevent criminals from obtaining guns by restricting legal and responsible gun owners rights are trying to reinvent the wheel. Laws already state that: people convicted of any "crime of violence," convicted of violating any pistol laws, a "fugitive from justice," a "drug user", or even a "habitual drunkard" can not even possess a gun. What more must be said? That leaves only law - abiding citizens the right to own firearms. If all of these laws were strictly enforced, as they should be, the crime rate would drop by 95%. No reasons to create more gun laws exist.
Ruger Guy, and I am not pulling a John Holt.
The following is a copy of an editorial that I wrote for my english class. It was supposed to be on any topic of my choosing, but my english teacher didn't like it very much. However, my history teacher loved it.
The Great Debate
"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." Constitution of the United States of America, 2nd Amendment.
This single sentence has probably caused more controversy than any other in American history. The debate over the implementation of stricter gun control laws continues because the second amendment can be interpreted in so many different ways. Those opposed to new gun legislation are not necessarily gun owners, rather many are just supporting the constitution. Gun control advocates cite statistics of the number of people killed by gun violence, but what isn’t said is the number of lives saved by guns every year. Those who are opposed to guns also seem to "forget" that there are already over 40,000 gun control laws in place, many of which are not being enforced. What the gun control advocates also fail to acknowledge, or possibly just not investigate properly, is that most crimes involving guns are committed against people who are unarmed by people who own guns illegally.
The first step for anyone who wishes to discuss this issue is to read the United States Constitution and understand the way our forefathers designed this country. Countless people have stated that these writers should have clarified the meaning of the second amendment. However, we can assume, and rightly so based on the rest of this great document, that the second amendment was written the way that it was with a distinct purpose in mind. It was probably written with the intention that if it ever became an issue, which it most certainly has, a definite decision would have to be made. People can argue the point back and forth, but eventually a final decision will need to be handed down. When that time comes, all factors should be taken into account; especially the fact that the creators of this country supported the individual citizen’s right to own weapons. St. George Tucker wrote a treatise of American law, called the American Blackstone (based on Blackstone’s Commentaries ) in 1803. (Blackstone’s Commentaries was a treatise on British law written by Sir William Blackstone in order to accurately interpret the meaning of various laws.
It was the "handbook" for all lawyers practicing in the British and early American courts.) The American Blackstone was an interpretation of the American constitution that has been cited by the Supreme court in over forty different cases, from the time it was originally printed until present. If we wish to know what the second amendment meant at the time it was written, we should consult the American Blackstone. The second amendment, Tucker wrote, " may be considered as the true palladium of liberty….The right of self defense is the first law of nature." He also said that the government could never disarm "any person" because it could never become "Necessary and Proper", as the constitution says something must be for Congress to act. St. George Tucker must have shared the same views as the writers of the constitution because they never stated an objection to this interpretation.
In the United States there are over 65 million legal gun owners. A large number of these people own guns to protect themselves and their families. About 2.1 million lives are saved each year by people making use of their weapons. In interviews with many felons, researchers have found that the main reason burglars avoid occupied homes is that they are afraid of getting shot. Felons have said that they avoid breaking into houses late at night for this reason. Studies conducted by Dr. Gary Kleck, of Florida State University, show that 450,000 additional burglaries would occur each year in the United States if we had laws similar to those in England, which make owning a firearm practically impossible. The most common argument for gun control is "save our children", however, one hundred times more children die each year from swimming pool accidents than from gun related incidents. Should we outlaw swimming pools?
Those people who wish to prevent criminals from obtaining guns by restricting legal and responsible gun owners rights are trying to reinvent the wheel. Laws already state that: people convicted of any "crime of violence," convicted of violating any pistol laws, a "fugitive from justice," a "drug user", or even a "habitual drunkard" can not even possess a gun. What more must be said? That leaves only law - abiding citizens the right to own firearms. If all of these laws were strictly enforced, as they should be, the crime rate would drop by 95%. No reasons to create more gun laws exist.
