Posts by c26ar

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The Second Amendment or popularly known as The Right to Bear Arms was originally created to allow citizens to protect themselves against the attacks of the militaries of other nations. When the amendment was created the United States had just fought Britain and was worried that Britain would retaliate against them at any moment.   The amendment was created because it would take too long to get the national military together to fight back against surprise attacks. However, since its original creation, the interpretation of this amendment has changed significantly. In the modern day, many perceive this amendment to say that citizens are allowed to own guns.  

One side to the argument is that the Second Amendment should stay as long as it is used to the original purpose of the amendment.   Because the amendment was vague, many people misunderstood the amendment and each person understood it in a different way. Questions have risen over parts of the amendment that were not mentioned in the constitution such as the right to bear arms in public and which type of guns were allowed to be owned by a common citizen.  

The other side to the argument is that similar to the First Amendment there is a point where reason overrules the amendment. For example, despite the notion that there is freedom of speech, one cannot commit perjury or fraud. Also despite the right to bear arms one cannot possess a nuclear bomb.   Many agree with the amendment in which it means that a law abiding citizen can own a gun and protect themselves against opposing governments or criminals. The controversy begins with which type of guns can be owned and by who. Many people who disagree with the Second Amendment believe that guns can be allowed to be owned by citizens but it should be more difficult to purchase a gun.  

Originally there was a law in Washington DC that stated that all guns must be registered and that all guns stored at home must be unloaded and locked. Police Officer Dick Anthony Heller was denied the right to own a handgun but was denied. He then sued the District of Columbia.   The supreme court reversed this law as it was a violation of the Second Amendment. This shows that even hundreds of years after the creation of the constitution, the constitution is still looked at to decide laws around guns.  

While I believe that this amendment should remain, I think that there needs to be stricter guidelines and restrictions around who can own guns where they can carry them. For example I think that it should be more difficult to purchase a gun and if you are not a part of the military or a police officer, it should be illegal to possess a gun outside of your property. While in many areas it is already illegal to carry a loaded gun, the punishment for doing so should be harsher.