The Second Amendment was written into the Constitution on Dec. 15, 1791.
This amendment seems to be interpreted differently by everyone, much like the writings of the Bible. Each person has his or her own idea of right and wrong, true meaning or hidden subtleties.
It seems to me that a group of people who left their native country to settle in a “New World,” where there was less oppression, would write something ensuring that they had the right to stand up to the people who oppressed them.
In the case of the original 13 colonies, where each one acted as a sovereign entity, they needed the Constitution to help unite them better. But the powers that be thought it wise to make sure that the type of leaders who had oppressed them prior to this time should not have the ability to do so in the future by means of their own greed and selfish agendas.
I think the right to keep and bear arms came about so that, should those in power use their influence to put the free people under their boot heel, the free people would have the legal right to defend themselves from the corruption that influence may take on.
And so it is that we all have the right to own firearms as we deem necessary to protect ourselves and our families.
I work in a business whose players spout political rhetoric as if they had researched the facts for themselves instead of simply reading a regurgitated script from the wires. What’s worse, they do it on a national level. But I digress, as that is a story for another day.
My interpretation of what I see and hear directly from the mouths of politicians is meant only for politics. It’s become an art form where looks and charisma takes center stage, while meaning and content take the backseat. So long as you yell the loudest, or add a strong curse word at the end of an expressive sentence, the crowd will cheer.
But it’s time we think for ourselves.
The people who were in charge of gun bans in the past are quick to jump back on the horse, using the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., as a reason to ride it once more.
Let’s think about all the murders on your local news. What type of weapon was used in most of those? If you don’t recall, I’ll remind you: a handgun. I know because I report on many of the stories. I see the file come through our feeds and watch the word “handgun” repeat over and over.
So why is there such a focus on these “assault weapons”?
I can only surmise that they are targeted because they look rather menacing. They look similar to what you would see in a shoot-em-up film. Quite simply, these guns are being vilified on a level for which we haven’t a name.
I would like to help debunk a myth.
There is a common term I hear emphasized quite inappropriately, so pay attention: “Semi-automatic.” Many people, including those with 10-plus years of television reporting, have no idea what this term means.
The truth: “Semi-automatic” means that every time one bullet leaves the chamber, the trigger has to be pulled to ready another. To exhaust a magazine of 15 rounds, the trigger must be pulled 15 times. This is true with any weapon that is available to the public.
“Fully automatic” refers to a gun that can be fired continuously by holding the trigger down. These type of guns have been banned in all facets of sale or transfer since 1986. Frankly, they are all but impossible for a member of the general public to attain. And completely impossible for someone to do so legally.
I have never actually seen any assault-style weapon used in any killings that have come across my news desk.
So the big question is, why are the politicians for gun control trying to ban something that, in statistical terms, is only responsible for less than 1 percent of all crime-related shootings?
My summation would be that they have to appease the people who pay for their campaigns. Because a handgun ban is a complete impossibility.
Rest assured, a gun ban will do absolutely nothing! It will stop no crimes, and give people more of a reason to feel held under the heel of a boot.
In case you were unaware, the Columbine massacre happened during the last assault weapon ban.
Chris Delcamp is a reporter and videojournalist for WNWO-TV. Email him at cdelcamp@wnwo.com.
