I staunchly believe in upholding the Second Amendment‘s clear message: “Shall not be infringed.” Our highest court has confirmed that this right belongs to all citizens, not just a militia.
While some have argued that certain “gun control” laws are constitutional, I see a shift in the Supreme Court’s stance, possibly moving towards outlawing all gun control laws. I support this move but believe that any such decision should align with a constitutional amendment to the Second Amendment.
Reasonable Measures for Gun Control in America
Although I am committed to the Second Amendment, I recognize the need for some reasonable gun control measures in America. My support extends only to:
- Mental health evaluations.
- Revoking gun rights for those guilty of violent crimes.
- Regulating bump stocks and similar devices.
- Limiting excessively large magazines and high-powered ammunition.
- Restricting so-called assault weapons.
I see items 3-6 as unnecessary for law-abiding citizens and wish to address these within the framework of the Second Amendment, ensuring the future integrity of our right to bear arms.
Building Bridges with Gun Control Advocates
I understand that not all gun control advocates aim to ban firearms entirely. We must find common ground and work towards a Second Amendment that addresses our shared concerns, such as the tragic mass shootings we’ve seen.
An Honest Look at Gun Violence
We must approach gun violence with both compassion and reason. While the media often paints a grim picture, statistics show that America’s overall murder rate compares well with other developed nations, excluding large city crimes.
That said, we must face the reality of mass shootings and work diligently to protect our children. I propose amendments to the Second Amendment to restrict specific weapons commonly used in these horrific events.
Addressing the Root Causes of Gun Violence
Many gun-related deaths result from suicide, and simply enforcing gun control laws may not effectively address this issue. We must focus on mental health, rehabilitation, and community support to truly make a difference.
I firmly believe that America is going through a challenging period, but with time, healing, and cooperative efforts, we can move past this low point in our culture and civil society.
Conclusion
The right to keep and bear arms is essential to our freedom and way of life. But this right must be balanced with responsible measures that protect our children and society as a whole. Together, we can uphold the Second Amendment while taking sensible steps to make our nation a safer place for all.
2 Responses
>Mass murder (including of children) is not statistically high in America, but of course, one murder is too high.
What? Every statistic I’ve looked at puts the US way out of proportion for mass murders than any other similarly developed country.
>Additionally, many gun deaths are by suicide, which I doubt can be stopped effectively with gun control laws.
Red flag laws can stop suicide. When family and friends think someone is struggling and know they have a gun, removing the gun from the situation can save lives. Waiting periods during the purchasing process also save lives when people are forced to stop and think about their actions. The more time between “I want a gun to kill myself” and actually having the gun in their hand, the more lives will be saved. There are studies that confirm this.
The biggest problem with guns in the US is that there is little to no training required to own a gun. There is little proof of knowledge of gun safety required. There is little proof of knowledge of gun laws required. You stick potential gun owners in an 8 hour class to make sure that they’re properly educated and you’ll cut down on gun deaths. Look no further than the number of guns stolen out of vehicles.
I apologize, but somehow I cannot see what I wrote to your earlier about statistics on mass murder (still learning this system). I must have misspoke on mass murders. They are far too high, and that is why I propose a (compromise) amendment to 2A in my blog. I do believe that if you remove from the statistics all the murders that occur in our big (mostly democratically led) big cities, you will find that the rest of America has a murder rate that is quite good. That is what I should have said. Our drug problem is resulting in our murder problem, in my view.
I am looking into and pondering red flag laws. I personally contemplated suicide decades ago. I did not share my thoughts with family or friends, and I imagine many would not. Removing someone’s lawfully held gun seems to me to violate 2A. Waiting periods, I agree with, but again 2A. It seems we are always wanting to ignore 2A and I would rather see us change 2A so we give a sense of peace to 2A advocate who sometimes think we are trying to undermine all gun rights. You don’t have a nation if you don’t follow the constitution. And frankly, on 2A, we don’t.
I also care about gun training done properly. I think states should require a license (with training) to own a gun, but again, it should be part of 2A. Even training is an infringement on the right to bear arms.
Thank you for your helpfull comments. Please reply if I was unclear or you have more questions. I go thru these things quickly and don’t want to make mistakes, as I did before.