There have been a lot of firearm attacks in the past few years around the world that have been instilling fear into the hearts of the people. Recently, there was the Orlando club shooting. There was also the shooting at that dance studio in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Texas mother shot and killed her two daughters just a few days ago. Millions of people across the world (and especially in the United States) are calling for a ban on guns, and American citizens are clamoring for the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to be abolished. It kills me that so many people think that this can bring about any change; that it will somehow fix our problems in society; that it will do any sort of good. The fact of the matter is that guns are easily manufactured, whether in a factory, in someone’s home, or in an abandoned warehouse full of convicts—you get the point. Anyone can make a firearm, and plenty of people know how to do it. So what good could this possibly do? Let’s explore the hypotheticals.
If the Second Amendment were abolished and “We, the People,” no longer had any right to bear arms in our defense, we would solve the problem of guns, right? Murder rates would go down, gangs would have to go back to the switchblade, and we would stop hearing about these horrible attacks on organizations and homes, correct? Some people think so. Personally, I think this is a very naive way of thinking—but, as only one person amongst a sea of upstream liberalists, it doesn’t matter much. It should, though. Here’s why.
The Second Amendment states that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” This is for the safety and defense of our “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Our forefathers knew the importance of home security, having died trying to secure the very same freedom we enjoy today. This Amendment was put in place to insure that we would be able to defend ourselves against the wicked forces of the world and of society (as well as protect us from a tyrannical government). Taking guns away from everyone means the bad guys don’t get them, and the good guys don’t get them. The only problem here is that the good guys will do what they do best—obey, while the bad guys will do what they do best—rebel. What is going to stop someone from smuggling firearms into the country? I mean, if people are still smuggling human beings in from Mexico, certainly we can do it with guns, too, right? So when the “good guys” are at home with their wives and children and the “bad guy” comes breaking in to commit heinous acts, waving around a gun, what is the good guy to do? Not much. Never bring a knife to a gun fight, right? More innocent people will get hurt if they are left defenseless. Bad people will not stop for an abolishment on an Amendment. They will not stop for the government. They will not stop because some authority figure told them to. No. Guns will not go away. Crime will never stop. The murders and the violent attacks will never stop. Bad people do bad things until good people step up and stop them. It’s just a little hard to do that without proper defense. I mean, as much as I wish yelling “Don’t shoot!” would work, it just doesn’t.
Destroying the Second Amendment will only destroy more lives. More enforcement on guns, sure! More licenses and registrations and qualifications, yes! Emotional and mental stability tests, please! But no abolishment. It’s the completely wrong direction to go. Let’s start focusing on fixing the problems of society instead of adding fuel to the fire.
