Pro Gun Control Debate: Our Right to Safety
Pro Gun Control Debate: Our Right to Safety Many arguments for and against gun control in our country revolve around the second amendment. Unfortunately the majority of those arguments are based on an individual’s perception of what the second amendment means. The second amendment was adopted into the United States Bill of Rights in 1791, which was 222 years ago. The second amendment states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” (National Archives and Records Administration). In that span of 222 years there have been many court cases and adjustments to the second amendment, some of those changes have remained and some have been overturned. Recently President Barack Obama proposed changes regarding gun control, which according to U.S. News included:
Obama encouraged Congress to pass legislation which, among other things, would increase background check protocols; ban assault weapons, high-capacity ammunition, and armor-piercing bullets; and provide more funding for additional police officers on the street, first responder training, mental health programs, and school emergency plans. The president also announced executive measures to make data relevant to background checks more available; to nominate a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives director; to increase Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research into gun violence; and to encourage the hiring of "school resource officers" at schools, among other initiatives.
Among President Obama’s proposals there is not anything stating that he wishes to prevent Americans from their right to “bear arms” which is the only topic of the second amendment. Nowhere in the second amendment does it state that we should have the right to own assault weapons or high-capacity ammunition. The proposals that were presented were based on protecting the adults and children in our country, to place
Obama encouraged Congress to pass legislation which, among other things, would increase background check protocols; ban assault weapons, high-capacity ammunition, and armor-piercing bullets; and provide more funding for additional police officers on the street, first responder training, mental health programs, and school emergency plans. The president also announced executive measures to make data relevant to background checks more available; to nominate a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives director; to increase Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research into gun violence; and to encourage the hiring of "school resource officers" at schools, among other initiatives.
Among President Obama’s proposals there is not anything stating that he wishes to prevent Americans from their right to “bear arms” which is the only topic of the second amendment. Nowhere in the second amendment does it state that we should have the right to own assault weapons or high-capacity ammunition. The proposals that were presented were based on protecting the adults and children in our country, to place
Cited: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety – Policy Impact: Seat Belts. CDC. 2012. Web. 29 April 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/seatbeltbrief/ Max Fischer. Chart: The U.S. has far more gun-related killings than any other developed country. The Washington Post. 14 December 2012. Web. 29 April 2013. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/12/14/chart-the-u-s-has-far-more-gun-related-killings-than-any-other-developed-country/ National Archives and Records Administration. The Charters of Freedom. NARA. Web. 29 April 2013. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html US News. Debate Club - Should Obama’s Gun Control Proposals Be Enacted? USNWR. Web. 29 April 2013. http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-obamas-gun-control-proposals-be-enacted