"To Arms"

A 22-year old student at Citadel got lost while looking for a doctor’s office. He drove slowly in an attempt to get his bearings, and his sluggish speed angered the motorist behind him. The police reported that when the student pulled into a parking lot to refer to a map, the enraged follower pulled in as well and got out of his car wielding a baseball bat and loudly berating the man about his driving. The student swiftly pulled a Glock 23 pistol from his glove box and showed it to the assailant. The baseball enthusiast, apparently no longer angry, put his hands in the air, returned to his car and drove off. (The Island Packet, Bluffton, SC, 08/09/08)

An 85 year old Pennsylvanian great-grandmother would seem easy prey to a home invader. But Leda Smith had one tool that allows the weak to defend themselves – a firearm. According to the police, Smith bravely went straight for her .22-caliber revolver and foiled the would-be robber by holding him at gunpoint while forcing him to dial 9-1-1 and report himself to the police. (Associated Press, 08/19/08)

A Connecticut resident, James Galvin was awakened by the terrified cries of his sheepdog. Galvin peered out the window, and saw his dog being chased around the yard by a 150-pound bear. Grabbing a firearm, Galvin ran outside. When the bear saw him, it stood up, and then bolted straight for him. Galvin was forced to shoot the bear, saving the lives of himself and his dog. (The Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, 08/14/08)

A homeowner of Bradley County, Tennessee, arrived at his house to witness an intruder slipping out from under his garage door with his power tools and rifle. The man quickly trained a pistol on the thief, holding him until police arrived. Sheriff Tim Gobble praised the homeowner’s decisive action: “I love it when a homeowner catches a criminal while protecting his property. That’s the best example I can think of why an armed citizenry is the best defense against crime. Part of our job is to back up citizens protecting their property, and I am proud of this homeowner.” (Chattanoogan.com, Chattanooga, TN, 08/08/08)



Like in these anecdotes, firearms are used over 2 million times a year across the United States for protection. The mere presence of a firearm, without a single shot being fired, is often enough to deter a criminal from taking further action. An armed citizenry allows people to defend their lives and property without having to waste critical minutes waiting for police assistance. It is surprising to me that many people in the United States seek to abolish citizens’ right to bear arms.

It is understandable, however, when we take into consideration the two very different gun cultures in the United States.

We have the large cities where gang violence is present, and guns are used for the senseless killing of other human beings every day. In this culture, the symbolism of a gun connotes only suffering and death.

Contrarily there are typically more rural areas where guns are used for sport hunting, target shooting, and personal defense. In this culture, guns are meant to be handled with due caution, but are effective tools for both enjoyment and defense when necessary.

Looking at the gun rights issue from a Constitutional standpoint, it is difficult to validate a case for banning citizens from responsibly toting firearms.

The Second Amendment:
“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.”

By definition, a militia is an army of citizens. According to the Second Amendment, as citizens we have the right “to keep and bear arms” in order to secure our freedom. It does not limit the right to the military; it is the “right of the people”.

It is unconstitutional to ban Americans from bearing firearms, but regulation is perfectly acceptable and required by the Second Amendment. Appropriate licensing and background check programs should be enforced rather than revoking people’s right to defend themselves. Banning guns will only prevent law-abiding citizens from obtaining weapons; criminals will still have access to guns, and will certainly obtain them. (Kind of like alcohol Prohibition of the 1920’s and the now repealed 18th Amendment? I think so.) If anything this will cause a greater crime problem than before.

In closing, I would like to echo the words of Sheriff Gobble and assert that an armed citizenry IS the best defense against crime. We cannot allow our Second Amendment right to be infringed upon by narrow-minded interest groups. The US citizen should educate himself or herself on gun safety and be proud to exercise the option of responsible gun ownership.


Introductory anecdotes credited to the “Armed Citizen” journal published by the National Rifle Association.



The United States Constitution:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html

National Rifle Association (it’s not just for rednecks, you know):
http://home.nra.org/