imported post
So, youre a student writing a paper. Hmmm. I guess that you are not a troll, so it seems that coming to our forum to ask the questions you need was a very perceptive move. Nice, you should do well.
Well, there are a few reasons for the right to both keep and to bear arms. we try first to learn the lessons from our history, and that of others, in that true freedom can only be had by those equipped to maintain it, or for those who are armed, so that if absolutely necessary, they can fight to get it back. God forbid. In the history of others, registration of guns has always led to the confiscation of those arms, and in many cases, genocide and/or dictatorships have been the result.
We have a proud history in this country of being able to own and carry weapons for the protection of ourselves, others, and our families. We started from nothing, needing to hunt for food. We had to run from, and fight with a tyrranical government, and at the same time, we stole this country from native americans, which of course put us into the position of needing to protect ourselves from the natives. Yes, this was wrong, but it happened. Gun control began as a result of the americans wishing to oppress theblacks they enslaved, but that is another story.
After having well established this nation, we had an established populous of armed citizens, this presented several advantages. First, it would be very difficult, even today, for anyones army (even our own), to invade and conquer this nation. Another advantage in this is that individuals and their families can protect themselves from animal attacks, including pack animals. we can also protect ourselves from animals of the human sort, who sometimes roam in packs as well. We can therefore to an extent, police ourselves untill the powers that be can be brought to bear.
We can secure ourselves, both at home, and while we are about, from people, and wildlife that can do us harm. We do not have to rely on the police or anyone else for our safety, security, and in many cases our lives. There will always be criminals, they will always be armed. There is no way around it. If the guns were majically removed from any country, the criminals will either get them from another country, from the military and police (like in Mexico), or they will manufacture their own.
Banning citizen ownership can only leave the law abiding citizen at a disadvantage against criminals, and at the same time it puts the citizen in grave peril from opressive governments, present and future, foreign, and domestic. An otherwise law abidingcitizen protecting themselves from an armed criminal under such laws is made into a criminal himself, and will be destroyed by the legal system which is designed to protect him.
I carry a gun all day every day everywhere I go, even in my own home. When I am out and about, I do not fear an attack, be it from animal, or man. I am not arrogant, nor am I beligerant. I carry a gun because I realise that I am not invincible. I carry because I value my life, freedom and history. I carry because the people who dont are vulnerable, but no less valuable. I carry because it should be the criminals place to fear my neighborhood, I should not fear his. This is my country, there should be no bad areas in which I am afraid to go. I carry a gun because If someone tried to kidnap or harm my family, and all I could do is watch them helplessly, then I could not live with myself. It is my responsibility to my family, a duty to my country, and a commandment from God.
Immediately before Jesus Christ was taken to be crucified, He gave His disciples a few instructions for them to follow until His return, among these, was a command that they should bear two swords. This command was such that He told them if they couldnt afford a weapon, they should sell even their clothes if necessary to get the money to buy one. A sword was the most deadly weapon of His day that could be carried, and it was not only unusual, but foolish to be without it. There is no doubt whatsoever that if Christ were to have lived among us in our time, the weapons mensioned in this passage would be firearms, the most deadly weapons carried in our day. See Luke 22:36-38.
The right to keep (to own) and to bear (to carry) weapons is a pre existing God given right, that has been supported (not given) by our foundational documents.
Did those who were killed in the holocaust have a right to live? Of course! Their government denied this pre-existing right to live. The same can be said for the right to keep and bear arms. The government can deny this right to someone, but they can not claim to be able to take it away because they gave it to them, as they certainly did not give it to them. The right was there already, the Bill of Rights only reaffirmed this right. And similarly it is written again here: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are" from the Declaration of Independence.
"That among these" would indicate also, that even without the second amendment, these rights, among others,should be protected.
Good luck to you sir.