The Second Amendment

The constitution is not and never was intended to be a static document.  Some parts of it, especially those particularly suited to the Eighteenth century simply do not apply the same way in Twenty-first Century America.  There is real truth in the old adage; “the Constitution is what the Supreme Court says it is.”  It’s time to stop pretending that the right to bear arms is something sacred or absolute.  It is outdated and unnecessary.  (As for the Eighteenth Century argument of having guns to over throw the government this is neither a valid nor practical purpose.)

The world we live in today demands a restriction on the proliferation and use of these deadly devices.  It is simply not necessary to hunt and gather.  Personal protection can and should be left to professionals.  Carrying and owning a gun should be a privilege, not a right.  Like driving a car, it should be licensed, taxed, tested and withheld as appropriate.  We already do this to a limited extent.  It needs to be expanded.  Convicted felons and insane people do not have the “right.”  We need to restrict the group of gun owners to only those who really need to have them.  No one needs to be a gun collector or a sport shooter, whatever that is; certainly not in the sense that I need to have an automobile.

Some kinds of guns which have no purpose other than killing people should be limited to military and law enforcement.  This goes for things like automatic weapons and large volume clips.  Sport guns like rifles and shot guns can be allowed under strict conditions.

Repeal the Second Amendment.  Pass real gun control laws.