Reflection: The Right to Revolt

Reflection: The Right to Revolt

           

The second amendment, which is protected by the Constitution stated in the Declaration of Independence, guarantees that every citizen has the right to bear and keep arms. This topic has long since been debated about with opposing sides strongly disagreeing.  The original intent of this amendment was so that citizens had weaponry in case they needed to rise up and revolt against their government.  

While our country has matured some in its less than 200 years of existence, has it matured to a point of trusting its governing force 100% and relinquishing literally the only form of over throwing and regaining control should the government overstep its authority?  While revolts against government can be considered a little archaic, it wouldn’t be too far off from necessary should the American peoples ever decide that a revolt was their last and only option to regain their freedom.

A country based on freedom ought to embrace any form of freedom and celebrate their rights, not condemn those who exercise those rights and can justify them historically.  There is so much controversy surrounding this topic. Opposers argue that if you allow guns, then more individuals will want to own guns and they will ultimately end up in the hands of either criminals, or unsuspecting children.

In my opinion, I think that history has proven that banning anything does not do anything to deter individuals from doing it. Take a look at prohibition. The ban on alcohol and more importantly the movement by the people to continue to use alcohol is a great example. Just because you make something illegal does not mean that people will be deterred from continuing their behaviors. It is also true for guaranteeing the right to own a firearm. Just because the Constitution expresses a right to do so, does not put it on every 18 year olds to-do list. By making something like owning and operating a firearm taboo, makes it less talked about. When something is less talked about, no one is learning the essentials in order to keep operate and handle firearms responsibly.  Additionally, examining the notion that history repeats itself, without firearms, the American peoples are left virtually unprotected in the physical sense.