Preview

Controversy about Second Amendment

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
975 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Controversy about Second Amendment
The Controversy of the Second Amendment of the Constitution 997 words (2.8 double-spaced pages) Red (FREE)
I. INTRODUCTION:
The Second Amendment to the Constitution(Second Amendment) of the United States of America(USA) is one of the most controversial. The Second Amendment specifically grants that, "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed"
The way that an individual interprets the wording of the Second Amendment influences their point of view on who has the right to "keep and bear arms" (Amendment 2). The controversy brought on by the Second Amendment is because the Second Amendment does not clearly define whom "the people" are. This ambiguity has left room for action by legislative bodies and the courts to pass laws and make interpretations that influence the way this Amendment is applied and enforced. The Second Amendment says, "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." (Amendment 2).
A central argument put forth by gun-control advocates is that since there is no longer a "militia", that individuals should lose their rights to own a gun. They often assert that the term "militia" should now be defined as each state's National Guard or Reserves. On the other hand, anti gun control advocates argue that the Second Amendment clearly states that the people have the right to own and bear arms even if they are not part of an organized militia.
II. ANTI GUN CONTROL ACTIVISTS VIEWS AND BASIS
Anti-gun control activists interpret the Second Amendment as saying that any individual, weather he be in the military or not, should be allowed to own firearms.
Anti-gun control activists believe that the constitutional right granted by the Second Amendment should never be taken away because it would completely violate the purpose the bill of rights (LaPierre, 1 of 2). Thomas Jefferson said, "The strongest reason for the people

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Second Amendment Essay

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages

    One of the most highly debated amendments of the United States Constitution is the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment has been disputed for hundreds of years on exactly of its exact true meaning. The United States Constitution wrote the Second Amendment as “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."…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Kasich Pros And Cons

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “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” (source 4). The second amendment is most important because it allows the people to intervene if the government is performing tyranny. If we the people were deprived of this right that means that we would be giving up our freedom to fight against…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Argumentative essay The second amendment has been the one of the most controversial topic in 2018. First the second amendment, what is it? Well, the second amendment states that people have the right to bear arms.…

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The second amendment is part of the constitution and is something that should never be taken away, and can’t be taken away. The amendment says that “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.” The first 10 amendments to our Constitution protect our most basic rights from being stripped away by an overly zealous government, including rights that all Americans hold dear. The United States Bill of Rights plays a central role in American law and government, and remains a fundamental symbol of the freedoms and culture of the nation. One of the original fourteen copies of the U.S. Bill of Rights is on public display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. This amendment and right give us the citizens a chance to defend ourselves from danger from not only criminals but also a foreign attack.…

    • 642 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There has been and still is a lot of controversy on the second amendment which is the right to bear arms. Everyone including the government has their own interpretation of what this amendment means. I personally do not think that there will ever be a complete understanding about what “the right to bear arms” actually means and what is and what is not considered the right or wrong way to go about protecting oneself or just having a sense of security. All people are different, have their own beliefs, and have different opinions on what this amendment can interpret too.…

    • 1298 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    No other amendments in the United States Constitution has caused as much controversy as the Second Amendment. The amendment states that the people of America are allowed to bare arms and maintain a well regulated militia. This has caused a lot of controversy and issues with gun control in recent years. The Second Amendment should be amended in order to have more rules, regulations, and provide a safer America for people. People in favor of guns suggest that there is a need for guns for all citizens to protect people from the government. However, violence is a large issue today with guns and weapons. The Founding Father’s were building America with a more liberal perspective that envisioned a free society where individuals protected their own property and person with minimal interference from the government. In today’s society America has built a stronger military and police force where people do not need as many weapons in their homes with such high power.…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The 2nd Amendment in the United States Constitution written in 1971 states, "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." Many gun control proponents believe that it means the military and law enforcement agencies should be the only ones to own guns. As I read it, it clearly says, "The people to keep and bear arms" meaning…

    • 256 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights states that the citizens of the United States have the right to bear arms, or keep weapons. This means that our forefathers made sure that legally we would be able to have the right to protect ourselves. According to the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, “Self-defense is a fundamental right.” (Pros). Almost half of Americans agree with this statement, and 67 percent of people who own guns claim that…

    • 720 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It has often been seen throughout history that when the United States government impedes on the rights of civilians, people tend to feel as though they are being stripped of their basic rights to life, liberty, and property. These basic rights are inalienable by law, according to the Declaration of Independence, and the government must tread lightly when making decisions in correspondence to them. In recent years laws and bills have been passed by legislation in regards to gun control with the intent of making the U.S. a safer place for all citizens who reside within its borders. However, the right to bear arms is protected by the second amendment and is highly favored by many American citizens making it a highly controversial topic. In the…

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms within his own land,” stated Thomas Jefferson. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution defends the right of the people to keep and bear arms and was adopted on December 15, 1791, as part of the first ten amendments contained in the Bill of Rights. This right should continue to be protected. The right to bear arms is a fundamental right that provides protection to American citizens and their families.…

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    A rising conflict in the United States is the right to bear arms. You’re either pro-Second Amendment or anti-Second Amendment. The meaning of the Second Amendment depends on who you speak with. The advocates of gun control would state that the amendment only gave states the right to operate militias. A famous case, U.S vs. Miller, in 1939 left two interpretations…

    • 1260 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the free people to keep and bear arms, shall not be…

    • 1505 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Within the confines of this amendment are the basic rights of an individual or a group to protect themselves against violence and aggression, all of which has been widely recognized by Congress. The Second Amendment was designed to help protect our rights to own a gun and keep it in our home for protection. The government should not be given the chance to decide who will and who will not be allowed to bear arms solely on the basis of vague statistics and fallacious standards about crime prevention, especially when criminals do not adhere to gun control laws to begin…

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Recently, public debates have been less focused on the safety and wellbeing of our youth and kids. Instead, the debate has been heavily focused on the meaning of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the proper use of guns by the adults. The Second Amendment 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…

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Bill of Rights recognizes and protects the citizens of America's’ natural, basic rights. What happens when the rights that the government are supposed to be protecting, begin to be ignored? Fourteen words protect all of our guaranteed rights as citizens of the united states-“...the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” That is why gun control violates the second amendment.…

    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays