#2A

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.".

There have been multiple interpretations, but I tend to focus on “…shall not be infringed.”  In the last few years there has been a lot of calls for “gun control” in various forms, ranging from complete disarming to banning specific types of firearms.  These calls get louder after an atrocity like a school shooting, church shooting, etc.  Why am I so resistant to the call for my gun rights?  For one, history shows that disarming the citizens is often a first step down a very dangerous path.  Also, the adage “if guns are illegal, only criminals will have guns” rings true.  Just look at the rate of firearm violence in Chicago, a bastion of gun control.

Some are saying we need to follow the model of New Zeeland by having gun turn ins.  We have our Constitution, and affirmation by the Supreme Court, that grants us the inalienable right to “bear arms”.

Other voices are calling to chip away at our rights, by banning specific firearms.  With the swipe of a Governor’s pen, many in New Jersey became felons for possessing magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds, including off duty Law Enforcement Officers. To the uneducated, calling for magazine bans for semi-automatic firearms sounds reasonable.  However, the stock magazine for more of these guns holds more than 10 rounds.  There is a call for banning Military Style features, but they aren’t defined.  This is a move against the AR, which many call an Assault Rifle.  Actually, there is no such thing as an Assault Rifle, it is an Armalite Rifle.  It is not used by the military, it just looks scary to someone who doesn’t understand firearms.  It is also the most popular rifle for hunting and sport.

I have two specific issues with those calling for firearms restrictions or bans.  First, they are often protected by armed security guards.  Second, they don’t know what they are talking about.  The don’t understand.  They are ignorant of how guns work, or what is currently legal.  Most have never fired a gun.  Or if they did, it was with a big show of how “scary” it was.  Remember the “journalist” who was nearly knocked over shooting an AR 15?  This was contrasted with videos of young girls happily shooting Ars with their families.

Firearms allow us defense options, fun time at the range, family outings, sport and competition.  The vast majority of gun owners are law abiding citizens who use their guns for lawfully allowed purposes.  We need to continue to resist the call, and support our #2A rights!