If you want to get me revved up and push my buttons, just bring up “yer second amendment right to own gunz”. Yeah, nothing gets me riled up faster than people just using a blanket statement of “it’s my right” to justify why we can’t ban assault weaponry or enact stricter gun laws.
First things first, let’s look at the actual amendment, shall we?
“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.”
Most of our congresspeople and definitely all the ammosexuals conveniently ignore the whole first part of the amendment. With words like “well regulated” “Militia” “security of a free State”. Yes, the 2nd amendment was written so that everyday citizens could take up arms and form a citizen army to come to the defense of their State should there be a threat.
The 2nd was also written at a time when the anti-federalists were dead set against having a national Military. Welp, guess what? We have the US ARMY, Navy, Air Force, and Marines now. And it’s the largest, most well-funded military in the world.
Putting that fact aside, let’s look at the “well regulated militia” part. The amendment very clearly states the militia made of the states citizens needs to be WELL REGULATED. Trained. Monitored. Governed. Controlled. So, explain to me how a teenager buying an AR 15 and tins of ammo so he can shoot up a school is “well regulated”? And how is he part of a Militia?
(Note the capital M on words like Militia. And a in State. The founding fathers were very exact with their language and the capital letters mean extra importance. Militia- capital M is an official Militia. Not a bunch of guys in Michigan who want to kidnap a governor).
Also— guess what? In this day and age we DO have well regulated State Militias already. They’re called the “National Guard”.
So, what exactly am I saying? I’m not saying take every single gun. If people want a rifle or shotgun for hunting? Great. Go through a process of a background check, pay registration fees annually, go through a mandatory gun safety training for your license, and carry gun owner insurance.
Same as everyone has to do if they want to drive a car in this country.
If you are a law abiding citizen and want to own a gun, this should not be any problem for you. I’m not suggesting infringing on your right to own one, I’m merely saying follow the second amendment and regulate it.
If you want to own an assault rifle? Join the National Guard (aka Militia) and let the State vet you for a minimum of 2 years to see if you can handle owning a gun meant for people hunting.
This would boost national guard enlistment and give folks gun training as part of a “well regulated Militia.”
All of what I have proposed follows the 2nd Amendment in order to support the well regulated Militia parts.
Now- here’s where I get more punitive.
If you own a gun, and ANY minor in is able to access that gun and uses it in a harmful way or commits a crime with it, then the owner of the gun needs to be automatically charged as an accessory to the crime. Same goes for any gun owner who has an adult household member gains access to their firearm.
Look- if you want to own a gun? Fine. But you get all the responsibility that comes with it. Keeping it locked up and inaccessible to those who may accidentally or purposefully seek to do harm with it. Personally I’d love to see parents in court for manslaughter because their kid accessed their loose gun and shot a neighbor friend because they were “playing”.
I don’t think anything I’ve proposed is outlandish, and it works within the framework of the existing amendment. The words are there- if only our lawmakers would take up the mantle of gun regulation.
And hey- if you don’t like the new laws I propose, then lawsuits can work their way up to the Supreme Court, where it can be adjudicated. As our system intended.