The 2nd Amendment of the U. S. Constitution 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."
This is the basic protection for gun owners to possess firearms. Pretty plane language I would say. It does not say gun ownership is only allowed if the government says it is OK. It does not say that guns can only be possessed by a few people and others cannot possess them. With all the shootings that have happened in the last few months, there has been push from certain parties to limit the ownership and availability of guns to the people.
The only way that push can come about is for the Constitution to be amended. So all this crowing about limiting gun possession is only a bunch of hot air. It is typical of certain parties in this country though. If they do not get their way about something then they will try every way, legal and mostly illegal, to change or misinterpret the law.
It is important for citizens to understand what the 2nd Amendment is and what it does cover for all the citizens of the U. S. It is very simple and straightforward, the 2nd Amendment guarantees and safeguards the right of citizens to possess arms. This right is understood to inherently exist. The current interpretation of this right is that it is one that is given to individuals and not collections of individuals. The fact that the interpretation of this right has a defining word "militia" causes it to be applied to all citizens, individually.
Recent decisions by the U. S. Supreme Court have stated that firearms possession is not only limited to uses in hunting, but also is applied to self defense. Thank goodness the founding fathers built the Constitution in such a way that it would take a very large majority to change any of the Amendments. There is some regulation of firearms, but there can be no elimination of individuals right of possess them. There is a wide belief that owning firearms is a deterrent to insurrection or tyranny in the country.
Even though citizens have a right to possess arms, there are pros and cons to this right. It is true that pistols provide self protection. Most gun owners believe that gun possession by citizens levels the playing field. If law abiding citizens have guns they can have protection from criminals who also have guns. The fact that everyone can have a gun means that those with ill intentions can have them as well. The proliferation of guns throughout society increases the likelihood of gun violence. This is bore out by all the recent mass shootings. There are certainly more gun accidents when guns are available.
There is a lot of variation of opinions when it comes to whether citizens should be carrying concealed pistols. In some cases you might not carry a pistol if the people around you do not want you to do it. But when you get down to the fact about carrying a concealed pistol, you have the right to do it, as long as you abide by local and state laws, no matter the opinion of others.
