The Issues, No. 33 - Guns

The right to bear arms guaranteed in the Second Amendment to the Constitution is a very controversial issue in our country today. In 1791 when the Second Amendment was drafted, conditions in America were considerably different than they are today. People required weapons to hunt and kill animals for food and people who didn't live as closely as we do today were more susceptible to being robbed and/or raped or murdered by outlaws. Also law enforcement wasn't as good or as prevalent as it is today, communication was more difficult (there was no telephone and no 911), the police didn't have automobiles, and the Revolutionary War had only been over for 8 years. So, in 1791, it made very good sense for people to have weapons. Today it doesn't.

In today's United States, I have a hard time understanding why anyone, other than a policemen or a person in the military, needs to have a gun. I know some people like to hunt and some like to shoot at targets but those are the only reasons I can think of to have a gun and those reasons don't represent needs. For the majority of Americans that own guns I think their rationalization is they have them for the protection of themselves and their families. But if no one other than the military and the police were allowed to have guns, there would be no reason for anyone to have a gun for protection. And, our American society could very easily get along without hunting and target shooting if it meant we would all be safer.

I think the Second Amendment is a good example of where the Constitution needs to be amended to reflect the current conditions in the country. We don't need to have guns. If we have them, people are going to continue to shoot other people when they are angry with them or when they are committing crimes. There just is no need for them. If you agree, let your representatives know. Otherwise they will continue to accept money from the National Rifle Association and back any legislative action that is favorable to its interests.