The war on guns

Most of us remember from high school U.S. history that the Second Amendment protects Americans right to bear arms. Apparently our Congressmen have forgotten that lesson since their time in school. Recently there have been many gun-related deaths around the nation which have brought our Second Amendment right into questioning. How can we be safe with guns everywhere? Surely if we take away everyones right to have a gun wed be much safer, right? Wrong.

Anyone who walks on campus, or into a bank or movie theater sees the signs that say no guns permitted, not even concealed carry. Surely everyday citizens who see these signs will abide by them, but why are those signs up in the first place? Banks have been robbed since they were first established. Schools filled with innocent children are no place for guns, especially after incidents like the 1999 shooting at Columbine. And after James Holmes opened fire in Aurora, Colorado during the premiere of the Batman film, having gun laws in all these places makes is just common sense, right?

Consider why these laws are implemented and who they truly affect. The Crime Control Act of 1990 was passed to create gun-free school zones. When looking at the purpose of these gun laws, they look like great ideas, but what good are they? These laws are put into place to stop crimes right? But who commits crimes? Criminals! Since when did they start following the law? These laws prohibit average citizens from being able to protect themselves in these types of environments.

Many thieves are for gun control because that increases the chance that whomever they are about to rob is unarmed. These laws stop typical citizens from protecting themselves but do not affect criminals at all. They are already planning on breaking the law when they decide to go into these schools, banks and theaters. In fact, this helps them choose their targets. How many times have you heard of someone robbing or shooting up a gun store in the middle of the day?

Keeping citizens prepared for anything is the best form of protection. If anyone in that theater in Aurora had a gun, I believe that Holmes would have gotten fewer shots off and it would have saved lives. There are and will always be bad people in the world and its our right to be able to defend ourselves from them at any given time. The average response time for a high priority emergency call is just over 10 minutes, where a .357 magnum fires at 1400 feet per second. Id rather have my safety in my own hands than in the hands of someone Ive never met who wont be right at my side the second violence erupts. How can we as Americans say we are free when we arent even free to protect ourselves?

See original here:
The war on guns