Let me preface this with a few statements.
First, the mass shootings of the past 10-20 years are horrible tragedies, and the perpetrators are sick individuals. Second, I believe all potential gun owners should pass background checks (including mental health history) with flying colors. Third, guns can be very dangerous and should be kept in locked safes away from the accessibility of children.
However...
None of these are reasons to ban certain firearms or restrict the ability of an individual to carry. The second amendment is copied, verbatim, here: "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."
The reason many Americans are opposed to strict gun control is not because they have no sympathy for victims of shootings. It is not because they want to be yee-haw rednecks with no sense. In fact, it's not even necessarily about self/home defense.
The second Amendment is intended to protect you from a tyrannical government.
The founding fathers knew this full well. Once you disarm citizens, it is quite easy to control them in every other manner. With such a large government as we have today, tyranny is certainly a real concern. As we allow the government (through voting) to control more and more aspects of American life, we begin to lose the power of the people.
You see, the thing with strict gun control is that it restricts those who are trying to secure a firearm legally.
Chicago has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, but also an astronomical rate of gun violence as well. The individuals who want to commit a crime and illegal activity get their firearms through a black market or another illegal manner. If these people are not getting their weapons legally anyway, what good is more control going to do?
The only thing that will do is make it more difficult for sensible people to protect themselves from the government, and/or others. I grew up in Idaho, which has some of the most relaxed gun laws in the nation. It is legal to open carry, without a license or concealed carry permit. If gun control was the solution, shouldn't Idaho be one of the most dangerous places to live?
It's one of the safest.
You very seldom ever hear of mass shootings, robberies at gunpoint, or murders. It's harder to be a victim if you're protecting yourself, and it's easier to save the lives of others.
The right to bear arms is more than just a ticket to carry a big gun on your hip.
It's not outdated, and considering how many people with firearms protect themselves and others against a criminal, that should be relatively clear. Even aside from criminals, it allows you to ensure your right against governmental tyranny as a free citizen of the United States. So, before saying the s amendment is an old white guy's statement, think about the potential consequences of losing it.
