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Americans and Guns
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Recent events have brought the idea of gun ownership to the surface lately. I'd like to give you a few thoughts from my perspective.
The Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution states, "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."
From there, many questions could be asked. What is a "well regulated militia?" Such questions are answered in what is called "settled law" in the U. S. Court system. This brings us to a brief discussion of U. S. law. For example, the President cannot make laws, he (or she) can only agree to or reject laws. Even if a President rejects a law, his (or her) will can be overridden by a 2/3 majority in both houses of congress. In short, congress makes laws, the president has a little power, and the court system defines the details.
So, "settle law" in the courts gives people the rights to "bear arms" although it says nothing at all about the right to "bear nuclear weapons." My point in saying that is simple. U. S. law does not allow me to own hand grenades, rock launchers, and many types of weapons. For example, if I built a gun that could fire 5,000 bullets a second, it would probably be illegal to own.
Personally, I think the U. S. Constitution should be updated for our modern society. Most guns should be outlawed (this will never happen in my lifetime) and hunters should have to store their guns with the U. S. Army, who releases those guns only for a few days of hunting season each year. Obviously, I'm not a gun ownership advocate and many people would be violently opposed to my ideas.
The U. S. governors of Texas and Minnesota, along with the National Rifle Association, have recently suggested we either arm teachers or put armed officers in all our schools to help prevent killings of madmen or others. I think they are the madmen. That is not the type of school I want to go to, where we have guns in the hallways.
But, as I'm fond of saying, "I'm not in charge of everything." That is, nobody made me king. I have my ideas and many people don't like them. But, other people do agree. Such is life.
The Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution states, "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."
From there, many questions could be asked. What is a "well regulated militia?" Such questions are answered in what is called "settled law" in the U. S. Court system. This brings us to a brief discussion of U. S. law. For example, the President cannot make laws, he (or she) can only agree to or reject laws. Even if a President rejects a law, his (or her) will can be overridden by a 2/3 majority in both houses of congress. In short, congress makes laws, the president has a little power, and the court system defines the details.
So, "settle law" in the courts gives people the rights to "bear arms" although it says nothing at all about the right to "bear nuclear weapons." My point in saying that is simple. U. S. law does not allow me to own hand grenades, rock launchers, and many types of weapons. For example, if I built a gun that could fire 5,000 bullets a second, it would probably be illegal to own.
Personally, I think the U. S. Constitution should be updated for our modern society. Most guns should be outlawed (this will never happen in my lifetime) and hunters should have to store their guns with the U. S. Army, who releases those guns only for a few days of hunting season each year. Obviously, I'm not a gun ownership advocate and many people would be violently opposed to my ideas.
The U. S. governors of Texas and Minnesota, along with the National Rifle Association, have recently suggested we either arm teachers or put armed officers in all our schools to help prevent killings of madmen or others. I think they are the madmen. That is not the type of school I want to go to, where we have guns in the hallways.
But, as I'm fond of saying, "I'm not in charge of everything." That is, nobody made me king. I have my ideas and many people don't like them. But, other people do agree. Such is life.
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Post comment Comment (19 replies)
- Reply IMNONARCISSUS
- Is it necessary to Bear guns in the US?
- Reply Jamesonhao
- Agreed. The idea of arming the school teachers or locating armed guards in school must come from those who benefit from the gun sales, this totally shocked me when I first heard it. The problem now US is facing is to PROTECT KIDS AND AVOID MASS SHOOTINGS, curing this problem is not easy, everybody knows, but fixing this is definitely not just releasing more guns and arming the guards, if so, will death be avoided? of course not. if US goveronment do so, we can imagine that
1. gun sales rise
2. kids always live in fears because those guards stand there to remind them.
3. education fee rise, a great afford for US familities
and the last, is school the only place that shootings happen?
- Reply samanthe
- It's very necessary to make a measure to guard against this kind of assassination,i can't imagine that people walking in the street with a gun,we need to build a peaceful world for the children,they are the hope of nation.
- Reply maytan
- This may be result from their culture,from my perspective, gun is just only a tool as sword et, the most important will be the moral restrait. As an aside,forgive my poor view.
- Reply sedgehead
- IMNONARCISSUS: Is it necessary to Bear guns in the US?I've never carried one. I think it is totally unnecessary. The reason wearing exposed guns in the city is illegal is that it is dangerous. If everyone carries a gun, the any bit of anger might explode into gunfire. We have too many guns and it makes us less safe.
- Reply sedgehead
- Jamesonhao: Agreed. The idea of arming the school teachers or locating armed guards in school must come from those who benefit from the gun sales, this totally shWe have had many shootings. Last month a man walking into a church and killed several people. Another killed about 20 in a theater two months ago. 95% of people shot with guns are shot by themselves or by family members.
- Reply sedgehead
- samanthe: It's very necessary to make a measure to guard against this kind of assassination,i can't imagine that people walking in the street with a gun,we needThe United States is rapidly progressing toward its own "cultural revolution" where citizens start shooting each other of the most minor slights and offenses.
- Reply Jamesonhao
- sedgehead: We have had many shootings. Last month a man walking into a church and killed several people. Another killed about 20 in a theater two months ago.Terrible
- Reply kinzhang
- Actually i think i am fortunate because i was born in China and live here all the while . When I was a child , i saw movies ,especially action movie , which always apears a plot that some guy hold a gun shoot other people at his will, a monster . At that moment , owning to my youth, i was scared . Later i heard that any American could purchase and use a gun for self-protection . I was astonished . Somehow this term of American constitution could arouse the rates of commiting crime , because as long as one hold a gan he could be a danger to others. As long as one could not temper his temper well , or misunderstand sth personally, or other motivation. And here i am not punching American Law System and just saying my point of view.
- Reply IMNONARCISSUS
- sedgehead: I've never carried one. I think it is totally unnecessary. The reason wearing exposed guns in the city is illegal is that it is dangerous. If every
I am afraid a gun-control law is needed in your country. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
- Reply sedgehead
- I agree. The US originally intended to try to arm its citizens to protect them from foreign attack. But now that means they can shoot each other! HA! I was in a store today and heard the clerk say that there has been high demand for ammunition. People are so afraid the government will try to control them, they are buying so many new guns and so much ammunition the stores are running out of them!
- Reply iuhil
- kinzhang: Actually i think i am fortunate because i was born in China and live here all the while . When I was a child , i saw movies ,especially action movie ,China's crime committers are no less than those in USA. You can see a great many types of crimes in China. But in USA, they are much less. Imagine you are a poor guy without a better skill or good education, what will you do to raise a family? Probably you will do something that infringe the law to earn money. A successful governoment with a better system will make its people rich, a failed government will make its people suffer. Anyway, crimes in USA can not be avoided in any poiint, even though he didn't have a gun at hand, maybe he could use a knife or something. Their problems lie in the single people. Our problems lie in the government.
- Reply wlwx6
- sedgehead: I agree. The US originally intended to try to arm its citizens to protect them from foreign attack. But now that means they can shoot each other! HI think those deadly guns should be replaced by baton guns that can only fire rubber bullets and making the resistants lose their moving abilities.
Baton guns not only reserve civilian's rights but also can defend oneself from dangerous culprit.
My English not so good, if you don't mind please give me a more native expression.
- Reply sedgehead
- wlwx6: I think those deadly guns should be replaced by baton guns that can only fire rubber bullets and making the resistants lose their moving abilities.Ok.
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I think those deadly guns should be replaced by baton guns which can only fire rubber bullets and causing the aggressors to lose their ability to move. Baton guns not only reserve civilian's rights but one also can defend oneself against a dangerous culprit. My English not very good, so if you don't mind, could you please tell me how to say this more naturally.
- Reply wlwx6
- hehe, there are many grammatical mistakes in my sentences. Thank you very much for correcting my sentences. Oh, I'm afraid that I couldn't get a good score in Test for English Majors-grade 4. I need more friends just like you who can correct my habitual mistaken application.
- Reply sedgehead
- wlwx6: hehe, there are many grammatical mistakes in my sentences. Thank you very much for correcting my sentences. Oh, I'm afraid that I couldn't get a goodYou might contact me on QQ using 2563613199.
Thanks a million