Stop Asserting the Second Amendment
Another mass shooting has happened in Northern California occurred on Tuesday, November 14th, killing five and terrorizing an elementary school. Last week, there was a shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, while victims were in church and last month. These are only the most recent two. In this year, there have been 54,448 incidents of gun violence in which a quarter of them have resulted in death. In comparison to last year, we are down .4% which only a small few can find a victory.
It has been three weeks since Las Vegas experienced a terrorist attack resulting in the death of 58 people and injuring 489 and already the discussion on gun control has quieted down. October 1, 2017, is being called the deadliest mass shooting in modern history. But, did we not just have our deadliest mass shooting? In 2016, Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida was the last deadly mass shooting in modern history. There were only 476 days between two of the deadliest mass shootings.
There are gun-activists out there who truly believe that the best way to combat this form of terrorism is for civilians to shoot back. Seriously? They think the best way to stop a man with ten assault rifles is to blindly shoot back out? If two wrongs don't make a right then in what world does this help anybody? Caleb Keeter, the drummer for the Josh Abbott band posted a tweet following the attack: Tweet
Is that what it takes now for people to understand the severity of the America's gun issues? For someone with ten assault rifles to attack an innocent crowd of people resulting in the deaths of other people's loved ones? To see your life flash before your eyes?
The National Rifle Association consistently calls for more guns in the wake of events like this. They believe that gun control calls for completely banning them and will leave people unarmed. They incorrectly state that it has been proven that banning guns does absolutely nothing. In a Slate article, they mention that before Australia chose to ban guns in 1996 they had 14 significant mass murders. In the 21 years since then, there has not been a single fatal shooting. So where exactly is the NRA getting their information? My only guess can be that they actually have no basis for their statements and completely hope that their supporters will not question their blanket statement.
(FAIRFAX, VA) - The National Rifle Association issued the following statement:
"In the aftermath of the evil and senseless attack in Las Vegas, the American people are looking for answers as to how future tragedies can be prevented. Unfortunately, the first response from some politicians has been to call for more gun control. Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks. This is a fact that has been proven time and again in countries across the world. In Las Vegas, reports indicate that certain devices were used to modify the firearms involved. Despite the fact that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions, the National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations. In an increasingly dangerous world, the NRA remains focused on our mission: strengthening Americans' Second Amendment freedom to defend themselves, their families and their communities. To that end, on behalf of our five million members across the country, we urge Congress to pass National Right-to-Carry reciprocity, which will allow law-abiding Americans to defend themselves and their families from acts of violence."
Fire your congressmen, not your guns.
Why are people even protective of the second amendment? I am not even sure people actually know what the second amendment says in the U.S Constitution. People just assume that it says "the right to bear arms." In fact, second amendment proponents are so adamant about this but do not even realize it is not correct. I am not going to lie, I even thought that was it said until I decided to research more about the second amendment. It actually says, "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 changes most people's preconceived notions about the meaning behind it.
However, there has been much debate about what that actually means. According to my politics professor, he said that it has been reevaluated and scholars believe that the Founders intended it to mean more along the lines of the states have the right to self-defense. Which means for gun owners of America, you technically have no rights to the guns that you own. Those guns belong to the government. The very same government which is being controlled by gun lobbyist.
The government is not protecting the second amendment because they necessarily believe in it, but because they're benefiting directly from the NRA. In fact, on Chelsea Handler's Netflix show, Chelsea, she calls out politicians for doing just this. The New York Times releases the top ten Republicans, in the House and Senate respectively, who receive money and have released statements (or not if you're Greg Gianforte) expressing condolences. It does not stop at Republicans, Democrats are also benefiting. The same party that claims they're attempting to prevent gun violence on their website is receiving money from gun lobbyists who are perpetuating it all.
We should be pointing our fingers at the United States Government for accepting dirty money and being the reason so many people have died. They have misinterpreted the second amendment, allowed for the NRA to run without practically any serious control, and have allowed people to die at their hands because they are money-hungry. Fire your congressmen, not your guns. We should be looking into who is actually running to represent us and their unfiltered views on gun control. This Bustle article quotes Hillary Clinton and others who are truly calling for more gun control. They link readers to where they can call their congressmen, fill out forms on letting their senators know about their feelings on gun control, and tweet your congressman. If we stop blindly asserting the second amendment, call out our congressmen, and actually do something about gun violence in America.
If anything I said cannot convince you, then hopefully survivors can.
