One of the biggest issues to ever be debated throughout America’s history is gun control and the Second Amendment. As gun violence in America rises, it draws more call for legislation and leads to one question: Where do we stand?
It is a complex question that takes a lot of time to process and answer. To make matters worse, politicians will either be outspoken radicals of one side or choose to not say anything hoping the matter will just go away. So as talks continue on what to include in legislation, the debates have trickled down to the citizens, which leads to practically no agreement.
Firearms have become a growing element in our society over time, and the violence is increasing. Sure some areas are worse than others, but that is not the true force driving the gun control protests. It is the outbreak of mass shootings in public areas. Areas like schools, malls and movie theaters have suddenly turned to a place of fear and second-guessing because of these acts of terrorism. As it gets worse, the gun control activists want answers, and some pro-gun extremists are not helping their case whatsoever.
Going Back To The Constitution
Many question the Second Amendment and the “right to bear arms” implemented by the Founding Fathers, calling it outdated. That being said, Thomas Jefferson did not see it as a temporary issue, but in fact he stressed it to be a future necessity.
Take a look at the Jefferson Papers, documents written by Jefferson on all sorts of issues, including the right to bear arms. Jefferson rationalizes it as more than just a right of citizens, but as a check and balance. It is a mechanism to keep the government in check and possibly prevent tyranny. We are in fact a system of check and balances in the government system and as it turns out, we the people have more of a check on our officials than just voting for them come Election Day.
Some find this to be a radical opinion by the former President, but the fact of the matter is, it is in the Constitution. It was the founding government’s way of preventing the power of presidency to fall into the wrong hands and to check any possible militant acts against the people. It may not be now or even a hundred years from now, but the guns owned by Americans may need to come to use. Who knows? And that is exactly why Jefferson promoted this idea; he could foresee the government trying to take away certain guns, which would leave the country helpless down the line.
Action Still Needed
Either way you slice it, there needs to be some type of reform. Radicals on each side of the spectrum are not helping the cause, but reform is needed in the background checking system. Working in a store that also sells guns and ammunition, I see the process that takes place, and it is incredibly easy to buy ammunition in our country. All that is required at the time of purchase is a date of birth and answering a prompt that asks if you are an American citizen. That is it. It is clear that as a country we need to ask ourselves why guns may be necessary, while still tightening the loops in the system.
