Second Amendment has become distorted. Why do we defend it? – The Arizona Republic

Opinion: We can't do more to stop gun violence, we're told, because of the Second Amendment. This idea of 'freedom' has gone off the rails.

Reginald M. Ballantyne| opinion contributor

Summer afternoon: Theyre called the two most beautiful words in the English language.

My vote for ugliest words goes to: political realities.

The wages of those realities were exacted at the Highland Park, Ill., Fourth of July parade, planned as a traditional celebration of summer and freedom. Instead, it became a violent instance of another tradition in America: peaceful citizens regularly slaughtered in the name of a freedom that most Americans and many worldwide believe has gone off the rails.

Since summer breezes began stirring, we have lost supermarket shoppers, targeted for their race; teachers; schoolchildren who tried cowering under their desks; physicians; both parents of a 2-year old, now an orphan. An 8-year-old boy, whose spinal cord was severed in the Fourthof July violence, is in unbearable pain and may never walk again.

We are alone among developed nations in doinglittle to try to stop them, those whograb the headlines.

Political realities are what supposedly justify our great American cop-out. No one is exempt here: left, right, middle, sideways.

Despite Americans vaunted ingenuity and determination, we seem to be individually and collectively stuck in our entrenched positions. Likewise, our representatives are stuck, banking on their constituents predictable views and their votes.

There are cries that something must be done, and the retort: Get real! Political realities indicate not much can or will be done.

Ironically, in June, as the country was reeling from recent violence, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a century-old New York law that placed some commonsense restrictions on that right. That ruling will no doubt undermine restrictions in other states.

To its credit, New York quickly passed a new law enhancing restrictions.

There are data, there are studies, as well as the example of other countries, showing that restrictive measures have in fact been effective and would prevent some of those incidents: not all of them, because nothing is perfect. (Flash: Seat belts are not perfect, traffic lights are not perfect, vaccines are not perfect.)

Responding to a countrywide outcry following the violence this spring, the president signed a bipartisan law setting modest restrictions on the freedom thats terrorizing the country. The bipartisanship was encouraging but lets face it inadequate, as political realities blocked more comprehensive measures that would deal with the staggering proliferation of deadly weapons in the U.S.

What about reform?How Arizonans feel about new bipartisan gun deal

The hope now, I believe, lies in engaging in conversation with our fellow citizens. Jon Meacham wrote that democracy requires the two of us to see each other, not as rivals or adversaries, but as neighbors. Democracy doesnt work, he said, if I decide that you are simply a rival and that any victory for you is a loss for me.

This calls for a middle ground, where complete, unchecked freedom is traded for human lives. That would mean some of us would stop insisting on banning what otherssee as part of their heritage and their families traditions. Amajority of them support commonsense restrictions, yet they are reluctant to speak out because they dont want to add fuel to the zeal of abolishing what they love.

Paralyzed by the horror, and the complexity of dealing with it, we have abandoned the stage to extremists on both sides and to the politicians and merchants who exploit those extremes.

Meanwhile, the immature, irresponsible and mentally disturbed among usface few checks on their freedom to inflict harm on the innocent.

The Second Amendment, ratified in 1791, allowed creation of civilian forces bearing arms to counteract a tyrannical government.

What would Madison, Hamilton, Franklin and the other founders who signed the Constitution have said if theyd witnessed the worst days of Highland Park, Uvalde, Buffalo, Tulsa, Parkland, Las Vegas, Sandy Hook ... a level of carnage impossible with 18th century weapons? Envisioning a free, safeand peaceful society, would they have hailed those scenes as the price we must pay for defending against tyranny?

Tyranny? Our government cant even persuade many of us to get vaccinated or wear masks.

One of our representatives-in-chief was quoted recently saying we cant do anything thats inconsistent with the culture of most of the country.

Who says the culture were living with reflects most of the country? Is your American culture defined by this recurrent horror? Mine is not, nor is my neighbors.

I have to believe theres hope in making our reasonable voices heard.

Reginald Reg M. Ballantyne III is former chairman of the American Hospital Association and commissioner of The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.Reach him atreg.ballantyne3@gmail.com.

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Second Amendment has become distorted. Why do we defend it? - The Arizona Republic