Monday, April 12, 2010
Conclusion
The issue of gun rights stretches far beyond the ability to buy and carry a gun, it is deeply rooted in the principles and rights protected by the United States Constitution. An attack on gun rights is indeed an attack on constitutional rights. Laws and court rulings that infringe on this right infringe on the Constitution. Laws and court ruling that set precedent on gun control, establish precedents dangerous to the solidarity of the Constitution. Not only should we advocate gun rights for the ability to protect ourselves, reduce crime, and exercise our rights, but we should advocate them to support and uphold the Constitution. If lawmakers and judges can undermine any aspect of the Constitution, who is to say that they will not undermine it in another area?
Are Gun Rights Really Safe?
After explaining why gun rights are important and what people can do on an individual basis to help protect them, there are probably still those who would argue that more guns makes our environment more dangerous. Perhaps the strongest argument against gun rights is the fear that more people possessing guns will result in more violent crime. Crime and guns most definitely share a close relationship. Many criminals use guns to commit heinous acts and terrorize innocent civilians. Why promote gun rights when guns are used for criminal purposes? The answer to this concern is that guns and crime to have a causal relationship, but this relationship indicates that more gun control actually increases crime. During the gun ban in Washington D.C., crimes rates noticeably increased and surpassed those of any other city in the U.S. When the gun ban was revoked, the crime rate plummeted once again. When law-abiding citizens are allowed to exercise their gun rights, it acts as deterrent for crime.
Gun control should entirely be directed towards criminals, not towards upstanding Americans who respect the law and deserve their constitutional rights. Disarming America will not solve crime. Instead, as discussed in my other blog (guns-on-crime.blogspot.com), gun control increases crime by rendering the average American more vulnerable to attack. Therefore, gun rights do not present a risk as many would argue. Gun rights present a constitutional right and a practical solution to crime in America.
Gun control should entirely be directed towards criminals, not towards upstanding Americans who respect the law and deserve their constitutional rights. Disarming America will not solve crime. Instead, as discussed in my other blog (guns-on-crime.blogspot.com), gun control increases crime by rendering the average American more vulnerable to attack. Therefore, gun rights do not present a risk as many would argue. Gun rights present a constitutional right and a practical solution to crime in America.
How to Get Involved
Perhaps one of the most effective ways to get involved in gun rights is to influence the realm where the legislation and policy takes place. When states are pending to rule on gun control, individual citizens within that state can contact their representatives and senators to request that they vote against bills that enact more gun control. Organizations such as the NRA and Gun Owners of America offer options on their websites that easily enable a person to find where he or she can contact representatives and senators of every state.
Another effective means of defending gun rights is to become well-educated on constitutional principles and current politics that involve gun rights. Inspire others to do the same. Get involved on the community level by raising awareness amongst family and friends. The influence of community and interest groups can wield a tremendous influence on how legislators vote on the state level. As the Founding Fathers emphatically declared during the framing of the Constitution, a well-educated populace is the best way to maintain a free country and combat tyranny.
Last but not least, actively pursue a goal to exercise every person’s constitutional right to bear arms. Learn to responsibly use a firearm. If at the proper age, apply for concealed weapons permits. Contribute to a firearms culture that promotes responsible and respectful use of firearms for correct purposes. Refrain from irresponsibility, even in a playful manner, that would give legislators and judges more reason to infringe on gun rights. It is absolutely pertinent to remember that firearms are tools that are very dangerous. Great respect should accompany the use of any firearm.
Another effective means of defending gun rights is to become well-educated on constitutional principles and current politics that involve gun rights. Inspire others to do the same. Get involved on the community level by raising awareness amongst family and friends. The influence of community and interest groups can wield a tremendous influence on how legislators vote on the state level. As the Founding Fathers emphatically declared during the framing of the Constitution, a well-educated populace is the best way to maintain a free country and combat tyranny.
Last but not least, actively pursue a goal to exercise every person’s constitutional right to bear arms. Learn to responsibly use a firearm. If at the proper age, apply for concealed weapons permits. Contribute to a firearms culture that promotes responsible and respectful use of firearms for correct purposes. Refrain from irresponsibility, even in a playful manner, that would give legislators and judges more reason to infringe on gun rights. It is absolutely pertinent to remember that firearms are tools that are very dangerous. Great respect should accompany the use of any firearm.
Current Gun Rights Issues
Recently gun legislation has been decreasing due to mass political pressure from concerned Americans who want their fundamental rights upheld. As gun control has lessoned, crime rates have also decreased across the nation. Nevertheless, gun control is still a pressing issue that occupies a consistent seat in the U.S. political arena. Policy and legislation are still in place that limit a law abiding citizen from being able to purchase, own, and appropriately carry a handgun. In some states, it is strictly illegal for an upstanding citizen to carry a concealed handgun with a concealed firearm permit. Oddly enough, the states in which such laws exist suffer from some of the highest crime rates in America. Again, to learn more about this data, refer to guns-on-crime.blogspot.com. If lawmakers, judges, and gun control interest groups complicate and restrict the ability of responsible Americans from purchasing and possessing guns, they are not only indirectly encouraging more crime, but they are denying a fundamental constitutional right.
Unfortunately, many gun rights advocates seek to raise awareness for gun rights in a less than convincing manner. Many are labeled as radicals and perhaps rightly so. The issue of gun rights is not an issue of gun happy Americans wanting to wield manly firepower anywhere they want, it is an issue of constitutional significance. Because of this, promoting gun rights should be done so with integrity and refinement. Those wishing to promote gun rights should be well versed in the Constitution and the implications that gun legislation has on constitutional rights. Furthermore, gun rights activists should understand the correlation between gun control and crime rates, an issue of extreme significance.
Unfortunately, many gun rights advocates seek to raise awareness for gun rights in a less than convincing manner. Many are labeled as radicals and perhaps rightly so. The issue of gun rights is not an issue of gun happy Americans wanting to wield manly firepower anywhere they want, it is an issue of constitutional significance. Because of this, promoting gun rights should be done so with integrity and refinement. Those wishing to promote gun rights should be well versed in the Constitution and the implications that gun legislation has on constitutional rights. Furthermore, gun rights activists should understand the correlation between gun control and crime rates, an issue of extreme significance.
Legislation Revoking Gun Rights
Over the past fifty years, legislators and federal courts have enacted gun legislation and policy that has revoked gun rights. The first major act that severely infringed on gun rights was the Gun Control Act of 1968. This act established strict requirements on who could sell firearms. The act enforced a rule that only licensed firearm dealers could sell firearms between states. Furthermore, the act also limited who could buy a handgun. Any person with a past criminal offense could not purchase a firearm. Another law implementing drastic gun control was the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993. This act required that all licensed firearm dealers conduct a federal background check on anyone wishing to purchase a handgun. Again, an individual with any criminal history would be denied the right to purchase a handgun. One controversial piece of legislation in particular, the Firearms Control Regulation Act of 1975 in Washington D.C., withdrew the right of any D.C. resident to own a handgun. Only those who had bought registered firearms prior to 1977 could retain their firearms. In addition to these acts of gun legislation, other laws and court ruling have further increased gun control across the nation.
Undoubtedly, the aim of gun control is to reduce crime, especially violent crime involving handguns. Contrary to what gun control activists would expect, gun control actually increases crime. Disarming law-abiding citizens creates a vulnerability that encourages violent crime, especially in the larger crime-ridden cities. For a more in depth analysis of this relationship between gun control and crime, see my “Do More Guns Mean More Crime” blog at guns-on-crime.blogspot.com.
Undoubtedly, the aim of gun control is to reduce crime, especially violent crime involving handguns. Contrary to what gun control activists would expect, gun control actually increases crime. Disarming law-abiding citizens creates a vulnerability that encourages violent crime, especially in the larger crime-ridden cities. For a more in depth analysis of this relationship between gun control and crime, see my “Do More Guns Mean More Crime” blog at guns-on-crime.blogspot.com.
Gun Rights
The United States Constitution guarantees each citizen the right to bear arms. Today, this means that a law-abiding individual possesses the right to own and use a gun for his or her own protection. Furthermore, the Constitution simply protects the “right to keep and bear arms.” Technically, the right to bear arms can extend to possessing a gun for hunting purposes, hobby purposes, protection purposes, and training purposes. But most importantly, the right to bear arms is a fundamental right that endows each American with the ability to protect self and family from any threat to life, liberty, and property. Our courageous Founding Fathers exercised this right to win their freedom. Now that freedom is what still largely protects us from any tyrannical force that could rise up to devour our freedoms.
Gun rights not only represent a person’s right to protect him or herself, but they represent the essence of the Constitution and its ability to protect and preserve our rights. Implicitly, a law that infringes on the right to bear arms infringes on the Constitution. If legislators and judges allow a law, in favor or gun control, to undermine Constitutional authority, what is to stop them from legislating and ruling in favor of other laws and policies that violate other aspects of the Constitution? Therefore, the issue of gun rights is not simply an issue of each American being able to wield a weapon, hunt on the weekends, and make noise at the gun range.
Gun rights not only represent a person’s right to protect him or herself, but they represent the essence of the Constitution and its ability to protect and preserve our rights. Implicitly, a law that infringes on the right to bear arms infringes on the Constitution. If legislators and judges allow a law, in favor or gun control, to undermine Constitutional authority, what is to stop them from legislating and ruling in favor of other laws and policies that violate other aspects of the Constitution? Therefore, the issue of gun rights is not simply an issue of each American being able to wield a weapon, hunt on the weekends, and make noise at the gun range.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Constitutional Rights
From 1775 to 1783 thousands of courageous American patriots lost their lives in a fight for liberty. After the American War for Independence, the founders knew that they could not protect their hard-won freedom without devising a constitution and government. The U.S. Constitution was specifically formed to prevent tyranny from government power and protect the fundamental rights of all Americans. The American Revolution and the framing of the Constitution represent to all of us a legacy that demands our utmost respect and patriotism. As mentioned previously, the founders incorporated the right to bear arms in the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution.
Today both state and federal judiciaries and legislators seek to legislate gun rights. Some may deem this simply an attack on the 2nd Amendment only, but there is a more dangerous risk involved. What exactly is the effect of gun legislation on constitutional rights? Is it possible that gun legislation undermines constitutional rights? Consider the following argument: Gun legislation establishes a precedent that judges and legislators can infringe upon fundamental constitutional rights. Laws or court rulings that infringe upon gun rights (a fundamental constitutional right) sets a precedent that can be used to justify undermining other constitutional rights. Obviously the founders considered the right to bear arms so important that they delineated it immediately after guaranteeing the four basic human rights. If legislation and ruling are allowed to pass that trespass on the 2nd amendment, what will come next? Awakening to this reality should motivate each of us to consider the many sacrifices that were made to secure the rights we enjoy. It is our duty and priviledge to protect these constitutional rights and honor our patriotic legacy.
Today both state and federal judiciaries and legislators seek to legislate gun rights. Some may deem this simply an attack on the 2nd Amendment only, but there is a more dangerous risk involved. What exactly is the effect of gun legislation on constitutional rights? Is it possible that gun legislation undermines constitutional rights? Consider the following argument: Gun legislation establishes a precedent that judges and legislators can infringe upon fundamental constitutional rights. Laws or court rulings that infringe upon gun rights (a fundamental constitutional right) sets a precedent that can be used to justify undermining other constitutional rights. Obviously the founders considered the right to bear arms so important that they delineated it immediately after guaranteeing the four basic human rights. If legislation and ruling are allowed to pass that trespass on the 2nd amendment, what will come next? Awakening to this reality should motivate each of us to consider the many sacrifices that were made to secure the rights we enjoy. It is our duty and priviledge to protect these constitutional rights and honor our patriotic legacy.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Introduction to Gun Rights
Nearly every day I hear a comment or see a news story that causes me to think back to the many patriots who so valiantly fought for liberty during the American Revolution. In a world of turmoil and political corruption, I am proud to be an American and to live in a free country. As an American I share the rich and inspiring legacy of the founding of our country and feel a solemn responsibility to uphold and protect the freedoms that so many lost their lives to secure. In recent years, basic constitutional rights have come under discussion and have even been infringed upon. One of the most fundamental rights, the right to bear arms, has come under particular controversy lately and runs the risk of becoming more and more constricted.
The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution declares: “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.” Essentially, the right to bear arms is not only the right to a fundamental liberty, but it is the right to a secure method of maintaining our freedom against tyranny. For diverse reasons, many politicians and organizations seek to encroach on this right and restrict its availability to all law-abiding Americans. The frequent argument for banning gun rights relies heavily on the use of guns for violence. Undoubtedly, this produces a legitimate concern; but punishment should be directed to the criminal, not to the constitutional guarenteed right to bear arms. These specific agendas to regulate and restrict gun rights will be discussed further on. For now, I awaken our attention to understanding why the Second Amendment is essential to liberty and what we can do to protect this fundamental right. I will discuss the above topics throughout the upcoming weeks.
The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution declares: “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.” Essentially, the right to bear arms is not only the right to a fundamental liberty, but it is the right to a secure method of maintaining our freedom against tyranny. For diverse reasons, many politicians and organizations seek to encroach on this right and restrict its availability to all law-abiding Americans. The frequent argument for banning gun rights relies heavily on the use of guns for violence. Undoubtedly, this produces a legitimate concern; but punishment should be directed to the criminal, not to the constitutional guarenteed right to bear arms. These specific agendas to regulate and restrict gun rights will be discussed further on. For now, I awaken our attention to understanding why the Second Amendment is essential to liberty and what we can do to protect this fundamental right. I will discuss the above topics throughout the upcoming weeks.
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