The Second Amendment: Americans Have the Right to Bear Arms!

2373 Words5 Pages

The United States Constitution says that U.S. Citizens have the

right to bear arms. Even though this guarantee was written with no

constraints, there are now laws that limit certain aspects of gun

ownership. The reasons for gun control fall under the flag of public

safety. Though there are many safety reasons why private ownership of

firearms should be banned, these arguments are outweighed not only by the

need for protection, but because the limitation of ownership rights could

become dangerous to personal freedom.

When the U.S. Constitution was written, some delegates thought

Militia was military forces because the Federal Government had its own army

to protect the people. The second amendment was made in response to the

fear of being helpless before a standing professional army. "Aristotle

said that decisions of a leader 'backed by a standing army' would be

different from those made by a leader 'awed by the fear of an armed

people'" (The Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States

Constitution, 28). Elbridge Gerry, a delagate to the Constitutional

convention from Massachusetts, was an activist for the right of the Militia

to bear arms. When asked what use a Militia has, he responded: "What sir,

is the use of a Militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing

army, the bane of liberty" (The Commission of the Bicentennial of the

United States Constitution, 26). On December 15, 1791, Virginia ratified

the Bill of Rights, making it, with the second amendment, part of the

constitution (The Commissio...

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and endanger oneself in the process.

Although guns are very dangerous and are used in all sorts of

criminal activity, they are already out there and the benefits of having

them outweigh the drawbacks. U.S. citizens have the right to bear arms so

that the most basic rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

can be preserved with force if necessary. Protecting ourselves form others

with deadly force preserves our right to life. Protecting ourselves from

the oppression of a government, with weapons that can threaten it,

preserves our tight to liberty. The preservation of both these rights

contributes directly to the pursuit of happiness because a human being

cannot be happy without life and liberty.

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