The right for our citizens to bear arms is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution under the Second Amendment.  I agree with this right.  Everyone should be able to defend themselves, their families, their homes, and their state and nation from enemies both outside and within our borders.  Of course, these actions have to be within the bounds of the law.

The Second Amendment

Let’s look at the actual words in the Second Amendment so we are clear about our rights.  The Amendment states:  “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.”

This is an older way of writing, but essentially it is saying that in order to ensure our freedom, we need to have a strong militia.  And since a militia is comprised of the State’s citizens, the citizens have the right to own and use firearms for that lawful purpose.

Note that the emphasis of the amendment is on the needs of the Militia as the intended purpose for bearing arms.  Over time, however, the Supreme Court has broadened the interpretation of this amendment.  For example, in the 2008 case, District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court held that an individual has the right to possess a firearm apart from servicing in a militia, and could use that firearm for lawful purposes, such as self-defense.

Here again, I have no problem with these expansions to the original amendment, and I don’t think our Founding Fathers would disagree with them either.  What I do have a problem with is the manner in which arms are distributed and monitored within our nation.

The Right To Bear Arms Responsibly

Since firearms are weapons, it is important to ensure that the citizens who purchase them are properly trained and vetted.  If you disagree with this, then consider how we as a society handle the purchase and use of various products that are not weapons – motor vehicles and aircraft, for example.  In order to use these products, we need to be trained, tested for competency, and over time, retested.  This reduces the possible harm to the owner and others by way of accident or the product’s misuse.  How much more important should it be then to train and test those who own products that are actually intended to be weapons?

In addition, we should acknowledge that some citizens simply should not have the right to bear arms, specifically those who are mentally or emotionally unstable.  This restriction is for the protection of our society at large, as well as for the unstable person himself/herself.  Therefore, background checks should be part of the vetting process, and should be part of any retesting over time.

Finally, there is the issue of certain types of firearms, specifically rapid-fire assault rifles and the like.  Over the years, various individuals have caused irreparable damage to families, communities, and our society at large.  At a minimum, the purchase and use of these firearms should require additional restrictions, training, and testing.  Moreover, there are some weapons should be permanently banned from public use.  These include grenades, rocket launchers, bazookas, and weapons of mass destruction.  These are clearly beyond the scope of the Second Amendment and should be under the exclusive purview of our Armed Forces.

Without these types of regulations, our society has faced and will continue to face increased acts of violence. This is to our shame as a nation.  Certainly, some gun violence is due to criminal elements that we cannot control.  And some results from people who have “slipped through the cracks.”   But we should try to control what we can for the benefit of all, even if the intended results are not completely attainable.

Key Statistics

The data presented below might help convince the skeptics among us that this issue should not be ignored.

• In 2021, about 81% of all murders in the U.S involved firearms, the highest percentage since the CDC has been keeping online records.
• The New England Journal of Medicine noted that 12 children die each day from gun violence in America; another 32 are shot and injured.
• An estimated 4.6 million American children live in a home where at least one gun is kept loaded and unlocked.  These improperly stored weapons have contributed to school shootings, suicides and the deaths of family members, including infants and toddlers. Source: Journal of Urban Health

 

• By the end of 2023, the number of mass shootings in the U.S. rose to 656, according to the Gun Violence Archive. (This archive defines a mass shooting as an incident where four or more people are injured or killed, including at home and in public places.) During the last 4 years, the number of mass shootings has exceeded 600 a year.

While the guns themselves cannot be blamed for these instances, the open availability of guns in the U.S. and the lack of proper vetting of prospective owners can be, at least in part if not in whole.

• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime noted that while the U.S. accounts for only 4.43% of the world’s population, our citizens own 42% of the world’s guns. It is not surprising, therefore, that we compare poorly with other developed nations with regard to gun violence.  This is well illustrated by the graph below from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.  It highlights all gun-related homicides, not just mass shootings.  As expected, the U.S. has the worst record.  If we want to own guns, Intelligent regulation and training are essential.

• Fortunately, the majority of Americans want to see greater gun control. So, let’s make it happen.