Posted on 05/07/2007 4:20:44 PM PDT by lowbridge
The Need For Gun Control
By Seth Schortz 05/03/2007 3:17 pm The Roundup (Half Hollow Hills High School West)
How many Columbines and Virginia Techs must we endure before Congress becomes serious about gun-control legislation? How often must we listen to those who are opposed to such legislation cry that it is their constitutional right to "bear arms"?
If we actually read the Constitution, it should be apparent that this so-called right is by no means absolute. The Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights 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."
During the 18th century an organized militia known as Minutemen stood their ground at the fields of Lexington and Concord. Today, such a militia is most often considered to be our National Guard. Dr. Roger Goldstein, the department chair of political science/international studies at C.W. Post, agrees with this point of view. He says, "Such words utilized in the Second Amendment such as ‘well-regulated’ alludes to an organized group, and the National Guard is our equivalent to a militia."
How often have we heard the expression, "Guns don’t kill people, people kill people"? Although this may be true, all too often a rifle or pistol is the instrument of choice to commit murder, especially when there are multiple killings involved.
Firearms are well ingrained in American culture. However, are our congressional representatives so inept or unimaginative that they cannot enact legislation to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens who wish to own guns while at the same time making it more difficult for criminals and the emotionally unstable to get their hands on such weapons?
A national policy must be enacted while still allowing states and municipalities to maintain stricter standards if they so desire. A national policy is absolutely required to prevent one from purchasing a gun in a state with weak restrictions, such as Virginia, and then having that weapon easily transported to a state like New York, which normally has more stringent regulations.
All rifles and handguns should be registered in a national data bank so that such weapons can be traced. We are required to register our automobiles, so why should the registration of our guns create a problem for any law-abiding citizen? More waiting periods should be required that would allow an adequate amount of time for an applicant for a firearm to be properly screened, to insure that they have no criminal or psychiatric history.
Albert Cover, a professor of American politics at Stony Brook University says, "The National Rifle Association’s stance on this issue has been sustained in recent court cases." It is important to note that a possible explanation is that the judges in these cases are Bush administration appointees, which may explain their conservative interpretation of the Bill of Rights.
Every day, more than 80 Americans die from gun violence, according to the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. That fact should be on everyone’s mind when they enter the voter booth in 2008.
Voter booth?
A High School student. So sad.
::::
A product of the liberal indoctrination camps of government “education”...and yes, it is so very sad.
since he wants to compare it to autos, then can he cite for me the number of those who die each day in cars? Even just the ones under 21.
More children probably got hit by cars this week than got shot.
Or break it down to hown many “children” drown in their own back yard?
This article underscores “The Need For Proper History Education.”
Perhaps a little research on crime rates between NY and Virginia would be helpful
I have a better idea. All teenagers should be required to 'register' for firearms-usage and safety classes. Failure to comply would require a special "dumba$$" tattoo.
Guns and 2A aside, could there be some cars without registrations out there in the big person's world? Oh, the horror of it all!
This stupid kid will grow up to be a stupid RAT adult, never realizing just how stupid he is.
I grew up Long Island. Hatred of guns has always been par for the course there, at least since the invasion of the ex-Brooklynites that took place in the 1950s. Its the type of place where people will tell you with a straight face taht “only the police should have guns.”
Yo Seth!
On average 115 people die daily in the USA in auto accidents.
Im sorry to inform you that that car you want is just to dangerous.
We are required to register our automobiles
Only if automobiles are to be operated on public roads are they required to be registered. If they are just being carried about on public roads, stored or operated on private property, registration is not required.
Yes. and people do register for CC
Ah, as opposed to the liberal "interpretation" of the Bill of Rights in which only judges of a liberal "bent" can decree which rights you have and which you aren't allowed to have.
I believe the Bill of Rights says juveniles under the age of 21 are not allowed to drive. It's the 11th one.
Registration precedes confiscation. It's a necessary precursor to tyrannical control and sadly genocide.
A disarmed people are ultimately defenseless against their agressors, however, valiant their resistance.
Jew for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
Armed Resistance to the Holocaust
Never again.
Ignorant kid doesn't know what he's talking about...
Wrong again. The National Guard would be acting agents of the Federal Government. The Constitution never intended that. Our Founders knew if in the event the government turned tyrannical the people should have to ability to correct that.
The 9th Amendment (powers of the people) means that if there is ever a doubt about what the Feds can and can’t do, they can’t do it.
Have a nice day.
Firearms are well ingrained in American culture.
So is a healthy distrust of government. That’s why our founders recognized we have an absolutely GOD given right at birth to the means to overthrow a tyrannical government, these days that means guns.
*** all too often a rifle or pistol is the instrument of choice to commit murder, especially when there are multiple killings involved.***
Unless your name is Julio Gonzales who murdered eighty seven people using a gallon of gas and a match.
Or a gang of 19 men who murdered two thousand eight hundred using boxcutters and airplanes.
Or Andrew Kehoe who killed forty five children by blowing up a school with dynamite.
And the list goes on...
Where there’s a will there’s a way.
I swear I remember reading this exact letter to the editor from another kid last year. Same mistakes, same shaky case, the only difference being the reworking of the original plea “how many more?” I’m thinking the Brady bunch is faking or proxying the same old stuff. Again.
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