Gun Control. The word on everyone’s lips in the United States. People are truly outraged, passionate, and extremely vocal when discussing it. Therefore, I will not add to that noise. I believe that the no one can truly know what it means to lose a loved on regarding such a horrific and incomprehensible act of terror and violence. It is very easy for politicians to use gun control as a talking point in interviews, but not even in the same ball park as getting that visit or call that you have lost a loved one. People may discuss mental health or glorifying the villain when it relates to a mass shooting, but again… You cannot fathom the loss. The nation as a whole continues to feel this. When we hear about a mass shooting whether it be a college, elementary school, or church, we hold our loved ones a little tighter. We think, “How can I explain this to my child?” or “what would I do in that situation?” or even “Why does this keep happening?”
Gun Control… De-mystified:
HISTORY: The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: “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.”
To think back to the time of our founding fathers would mean with their view. in theory, the Revolutionary War. Most people could recognize that this is to mean that if for any reason the citizens felt the need to rise up and defeat the government, like a revolution per say, they would be armed and the state could not do anything regarding that. Therefore, the government could not induce a hostile take over of it’s own people. After all, this is America, which one could recall…
“by the people and for the people”
The Second Amendment and rulings regarding the second amendment:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/second_amendment
PRESENT: With a surge in the last twenty years alone of mass shootings that could occur any where and without any warning, everyone is barking up the “gun control” tree. This does not necessarily mean to remove our right to own guns. Technically, each state has it’s own rules currently. Such as, in the city of Chicago you cannot legally own a hand gun. In New York city, you cannot own a hunting rifle. In most states, it is required to get a background check if you purchase your fire arm from an authorized dealer (think gun shop or gun show). In the state of Georgia for example, you do not have to have a bill of sale even when selling from one individual to another.
State Gun Law reference link:
http://smartgunlaws.org/search-gun-law-by-state/
WHY IT MATTERS: People feel as if nothing is being done, to put it bluntly. People continue to acquire weapons, legally in the cases of the following mass shootings: Aurora, Colorado. Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. The Community College in Oregon. The Charleston church shooting. All men purchased the guns legally. So the ideas being thrown around are as follows: Mental health screenings, tougher background checks, the smaller clips (this actually was passed post Sandy Hook), and the list goes on… what has not changed is that people keep dying. Families keep losing loved ones and it seems there is nothing the nation can do. Except, you can vote. That is where everything changes.
CNN released this graph:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/02/us/oregon-shooting-terrorism-gun-violence/
THE FUTURE: You can vote. That is the magic of a democracy. If you support gun control you can look up someone’s voting records or campaign financing (See previous post.) You might be wondering.. “campaign financing?” Yes. The NRA or National Rifle Association is large special interest group in Washington D.C. They advocate for gun rights and more importantly, fund candidates to run for office. Which means, that if you support gun rights and your candidate receives funding from the NRA, then you may be ok with this. If you do prefer gun restrictions, you may have an issue with your candidate being funded by the NRA, who is an non-governmentaly organization who openly supports less gun restrictions. The choice is yours to make. Just be prepared for a lot (I mean a lot) of research.
Sincerely, Savannah
Liberty Jezebelle 