Gun Control and the Second Amendment
Gun control and the Second Amendment
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 Commission for the Bicentennial of the United States
Constitution, 5).
The Constitution does not guarantee gun ownership for just any
reason. The second amendment makes it clear that only a well regulated
Militia needs arms. "As recently as 1980 the Supreme Court noted that 'The
second amendment guarantees no right to keep and bear a
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 Commission for the Bicentennial of the United States
Constitution, 5).
The Constitution does not guarantee gun ownership for just any
reason. The second amendment makes it clear that only a well regulated
Militia needs arms. "As recently as 1980 the Supreme Court noted that 'The
second amendment guarantees no right to keep and bear a