Officially the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution, the Right to Bear Arms was signed into law collectively encompassing the nine amendments that compose the Bill of Rights. The law states, “Well governed armed forces, which are vital to provide security and protection to the independent State, shall not disobey the natural right of a person to bear arms,” proclaiming the militias to recognize completely the rights of the citizens. However, this law became controversial for the section under the Bill of Rights that concerns the enforcement or undoing of the act to restrict the people from possessing firearms or completely ban them from owning one. Basically, the 2nd Amendment was to guarantee people with their right to bear arms, but only limited, where it comes with a number of federal laws that prohibits the ownership of guns and other types of firearms. However, there are also arguments about this law that greatly contradicts several other federal laws, which has made it a continuous controversial issue. To build a well-informed opinion about this matter, let us take a look at the law’s pros and cons.
List of Pros of the Right to Bear Arms
1. It offers self-protection.
Having the ability to own a gun can offer people with life-saving protection. According to research, gun owners are less likely to become a victim of violent crimes. Having access to a gun when you and your family are at risk would significantly change the outcome of the given situation.
2. It is in accordance to the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights does state quite clearly that every citizen in the US does have the right to bear arms. People who only consider constitutional law, who are known as “purists”, believe that there is nothing to haggle about this statement of privilege. They say that this right is part of the Constitution, like the Freedom of Speech and the Right to Religious Freedom, and if it can be haggled, then so as the rest of the laws.
3. It helps reduce the overall crime rate.
Statistics show that states having liberal gun laws are also having lower crime rates. While opponents say that there may be other reasons that these states are enjoying such, it does really help along with having gun ownership laws that implement very tough criminal punishments.
4. It helps reduce the risk of becoming a victim.
Like what is implied above, given the right to own a gun will greatly reduces the risk that you and your family will become victims of any crime. Research found that gun owners are not only better able to protect themselves, but are also more conscious of their overall personal security.
5. It equalizes the playing field between law abiders and criminals.
The 2nd Amendment definitely evens the playing field between law abiding citizens and criminals. Some states that implement very strict laws on gun ownership keep law abiders to own firearms, while they are seeing others breaking the law in order to commit crimes.
List of Cons of the Right to Bear Arms
1. It risks placing firearms in the wrong hands.
Is has been observed that there has been an increase in violent crimes involving law-abiding citizens with the 2nd Amendment being implemented. In fact, a few of the school-shooting incidents involved shooters who were not convicted of any crime when they were average citizens. If they did not have access to firearms, the outcomes are believed to be different. Opponents argue that the lives of all those victims could have been saved if it were not for the lax gun laws that allowed the criminals to just walk into some weapons store and make purchases.
2. It carries the possibility that the owner will be shot.
Sad to say, those who own guns have been more likely to get shot than other people who do not. It would seem that gun owners are mostly the ones to get involved in a confrontation with other gun owners, which often ended tragically.
3. It is being misinterpreted.
For some people, they feel that the Right to Bear Arms was not meant for people to protect their homes, but instead to give people the chance to fights against foreign threat or an oppressive government.
4. It causes accidental shootings.
When the law was implemented, there has been a notable rate of accidental shootings involving children who were able to access unattended guns. Homes with children are at a greater risk for accidental shootings, where the gun was locked. This is the reason why opponents are complaining about the laws that require a weapon to be secured, stating that how could a gun protect an individual if it is always secured.
5. It causes other people to feel agitated.
Surveys show that armed citizens make other people feeling agitated, with some even informing the police about suspicious persons looking armed with a firearm, resulting to the police officers not being able to easily recognize or identify normal responsible citizens with guns from criminals. Some anxious people also express that that the ability to carry guns for self-defense is not granted by the Constitution, claiming that the amendment enables citizens to bear arms when called to service. This means that many people really do not know whether they are allowed to carry weapons for self-defense or for personal reasons.
Obtaining the right to own a gun or any firearm through legal and scrutinized means would spark a personal thought of both defending or protecting oneself and keeping oneself unharmed from offensive attacks. Though a person is enjoying the right of self-protection, which is basic of national protection, an abusive use of this law is possible. While there are pros to upholding the Right to Bear Arms and relax the laws governing gun ownership, there are also quite a few cons. This means that people should exercise a measure of self-control and a sense of responsibility to obey the rules that make it up.
