State of Affairs

Subhead

Securing the Republic by Following the Constitution

Image
  • Diego Lopez
    Diego Lopez
Body

I love the constitution, and I struggle when it comes to issues that are specifically codified in the Constitution because these rights are ours by birthright, and they cannot be taken away. The United States is suffering an epidemic of gun violence and there is a great big fear that rights like the Second Amendment are at risk. I don’t think that’s a serious issue that we have to contend with, personally, but we must always be vigilant to ensure that they are not taken. So, lets discuss 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.” – Article II, Bill of Rights, Constitution of the United States of America.

“A well regulated militia” does not necessarily mean being in a paramilitary group, but being part of the collective defense of the United States. In the event of an invasion of the United States, American citizens with firearms will make up this militia.

“Being necessary to the security of a free State”. This section of the amendment gives power to the first clause about the militia. This clause makes it clear that the right of the people to own guns keeps the country safe in situations where the military cannot immediately intervene.

“The right of the people to keep and bear Arms” confirms that this amendment is about firearms. Specifically, the right of US citizens to carry these weapons in the defense of their nation.

“Shall not be infringed.” This means that the right to owning firearms is guaranteed by the federal government, that firearms cannot be taken away from their citizens. This is in place to ensure that the collective safety of the United States is not affected.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan, the Japanese military chose not to continue attacking the United States of America. A quote often attributed to Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto goes, “You cannot invade mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.” The Second Amendment is our protection from nations that would do us harm.

But what happens when Americans turn these firearms on each other? We have seen several mass shootings and murders using firearms over just the past few weeks. I want to be abundantly clear; I support the right of every American to bear arms – we need it for our common defense because there are people but there who would do harm to us just for being born in the US. But the Second Amendment starts off with “A well regulated militia,” and with the way children have been murdered, families torn apart, it is clear that firearms in America are not well regulated.

Taking firearms away is not the right answer nor is it even a legitimate suggestion in congress – it won’t happen. But, why not hold families who keep their guns strewn about their house liable when a resident of that house uses the firearms to commit a crime? Why not hold the legal owner of that firearm liable anytime the firearm is used in a crime? We need to be responsible and train ourselves to keep these locked up and away from vulnerable populations, especially teenagers and those with debilitating mental disabilities.

We are at a point where firearms are obviously not well regulated. This is a requirement of the Second Amendment, and it is a requirement which is not being met by our Republic. If it were being met, there would not be so many dead children from gun violence over the past few weeks.

Firearms are important to the safety and security of the Republic. They cannot, and they will not be taken away. Our Constitution demands that firearms are “well regulated,” they currently are not, and that must change. Right now, it’s more difficult for a woman to get an abortion than it is for a mentally unstable person to purchase a firearm and slaughter classrooms full of children.

It is time to take our Constitution seriously and regulate the sale of firearms. With the mental health crisis affecting our children – and I hate to propose this, because as a teen I loved to fire rifles – maybe it’s time to consider raising the age limit to purchase rifles. But it is abundantly clear that something needs to be done.