Don’t Judge Me: Why We Need the Second Amendment – The Beacon

The importance of protecting the Second Amendment is crucial to the Constitution and civilian life; not just for protection against others, but to also protect ourselves from government tyranny. However, I am the first to admit that gun background checks are still far from perfect and this has led to problems.

The Second amendment states 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 right to bear arms is a persons right to possess firearms for their own personal defense.

The Second amendment brings forth strong opinions, and is often misunderstood. Not only is this right for personal protection, but to also protect the country against a government mistreating the people. It was created because of our colonial past under Englands rule.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2017 there were 39,773 deaths due to gun violence. About 60% of these incidents are suicides, but it also includes murders and other gun-related deaths. I believe that the number of these deaths can be reduced if we had a more rigorous process for allowing people who could qualify to own a firearm.

The selection process in the United States for one to carry firearms has been drastically abused for many years because some states do not require background checks while it is required in other states. Not having background checks lead to the wrong people owning guns which in turn cause more violence.

As a hunter and strong supporter in the Second Amendment, I believe the importance of background checks is crucial to getting guns out of the wrong hands. In Massachusetts, everyone must go to their local police station and answer questions from the chief of police before even being considered to own a license to carry (LTC).

Personal and safety questions continue into the gun store which include any mental health issues, felonies and other crimes. Anyone with any felonies or serious misdemeanor charges will not be able to own firearms in Massachusetts. Plus, any diagnosis of mental illness will prevent the sale and ownership of a firearm.

Even with all these steps, some people slip through the cracks. One of the major problems that prevents the government from stopping gun violence is easy access gun shows across the country. At these gun shows, private sellers arrive to sell their own guns to potential customers. The problem is background checks are not performed at these events. Since they are private sellers, they do not have to to look into someones past, which is a huge problem.

With the gray areas in gun shows, there is also the issue of what mental health is and what is classified as mental illness issue. I believe only professional medical diagnoses should be used to determine mental fitness. The system needs to stay this strict if we, the people, want our daily lives to be safer.

Not having the Second Amendment will also abolish hunting and the ability to survive on your own. As a hunter, the thought of not being able to put food on the table of your family is a tough thing to think about. Hunting has been key in human survival all throughout time. If the world collapses, people will have no means of getting food in the wilderness.

Having the Second Amendment is very important to a successful country and personal protection. This fear of not being able to defend yourself when in danger is a frightening thought. Owning an LTC will surely limit the chances of one being a victim of a crime or assault.

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Don't Judge Me: Why We Need the Second Amendment - The Beacon