What does the Second Amendment actually say? It is stated in the United States Constitution that “a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of people to bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

It means a militia or local volunteer military which we call the National Guard, can be organized and maintained by each state. It also states that the right of people to bear arms shall not be infringed, which means exactly that, people can own guns and the government can’t do anything about it.

The right of a state to maintain a militia is just common sense. In the early days of the United States, the militia was used for fighting on the frontiers and, during the Revolutionary War, the militia was called upon many times to help expel the British from the United States. Today, the National Guard is still used during times of emergency. Everyone can agree that a “well regulated militia” has always been a good thing to have.

The right of people to bear arms was very important in the early days of the United States. The army was kept small and the government depended on volunteer units during most military conflicts.

These units were composed of men with experience with guns and some units even supplied their own guns and didn’t use the weapons issued to them by the military.

The backbone of the United States military, during conflict, is composed of volunteer units whose members have previously had experience with and probably own firearms. Does this system work? I think it does.

The United States hasn’t lost a single declared war yet. Sure, a couple of police actions have been questionable, but we have never lost a formally declared war.

This is because the U.S. military is composed of citizen soldiers who do their duty during times of war by fighting for their country and do their duty during times of peace by owning firearms and using them. If the need arises, they might fight for the good of the United States.

So there you have it. The Constitution gives the right to bear arms to people so they might help to defend that Constitution.

I’d like to conclude with another passage from the Constitution. This is Article V Clause 2: “This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be passed in the Pursuance thereof…shall be the supreme law of the Land…”

Mess with the Second Amendment and you mess with the supreme law of the Land.

Chad Hayward

Freshman

Chemistry