The United States should repeal the Second Amendment to its Constitution.
If my suggestion automatically gives you an idea that I want to confiscate everyone’s guns, then I have already demonstrated the danger of the Second Amendment.
The Second Amendment relieves gun activists of the intellectual duty of justifying gun ownership with at least a half-decent rationale. “It’s my right,” isn’t an argument, but unfortunately, it’s all they need.
The U.S. is one of only three countries to make gun ownership a right. Yet, citizens all around the world own guns. This is because ownership doesn’t necessitate an amendment.
Without using a constitutional right as a crutch, citizens of other countries have to adequately demonstrate that they require a gun and are capable of owning one.
This is how it should be in the U.S.
Currently, we view every citizen as deserving of gun ownership with exceptions for certain people. I suggest working in the opposite direction. Begin with the premise that no one should have a gun, then create exceptions for legally permitting it.
This wouldn’t be as restrictive as you might imagine. After all, there are plenty of reasonable rationales. Hunting? Sure, but each person only needs one gun to hunt. Self defense? Sure, and again, you only need one. Collector? Absolutely, just no ammunition for your arsenal.
After demonstrating a good need, we should then be required to pass a host of background and mental checks.
Let’s begin treating gun ownership as what it truly is: a privilege to be worked for, not a guaranteed right that allows for any kind of gun and as many as you’d like to be handed to you. This change would save lives. I guarantee it would save lives.
Perhaps repealing the Second Amendment is unlikely. At present, it’s still the right thing to do. It could be avoided though, if gun culture would change its tone in the nation’s political dialogue.
Unfortunately, it seems unwilling to change, so the only way to do this is to force a hand. We must revoke the right to bear arms.
Therin Showalter
IU Student
