Something I am unsure of about America

I have read this:
"The right to bear arms" is the right to possess and carry weapons, a concept rooted in English history and enshrined in the United States as the Second Amendment, which allows people to have arms for self-defense and other purposes, subject to regulations.

What are the regulations? I ask because if someone can just gun down a thirty one years old as they disagree with his rhetoric how are guns and the right to bear arms working? Surely the fact the Framers didn’t include it in the Original Constitution means they didn’t want people killing other people adhoc.

Here in Italy 🇮🇹 I am privileged to have a concealed weapon because of whom my father is. But it is PURELY for self defence, and the defence of my daughter who is still a minor.

I read somewhere too that the police in one town went on strike and everyone wore a gun and they say crime was almost non existent. When the Amendment was added was this historically the thought of the legislators because there were a spate of killings?

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TexChik · F

In the US, after we fought the Brits for our independence, the right to keep and bear arms was integral to our national security. Before the war, the Brits disarmed the colonists and abused them with harsh regulations and treatment...because they had the guns and the colonists did not.

After Pearl Harbor, the fact that the Japanese understood the American populace was armed prevented an invasion of our West Coast. The Japanese thought there was "a rifle behind every blade of grass", and it would be much too dangerous to attempt.

The Constitution does not give us the right to keep and bear arms (self-defense and protection), it protects our unalienable right (granted by God) to do so.

You can own machine guns if you pass the background check and can afford the tax stamp. In conservative states in the US, you no longer need a permit to carry. Still, it is entirely incumbent on the person owning and carrying a weapon to know, understand, and follow the laws regulating that. The police are not forgiving when it comes to gun law violations.

We have courses for that. But most importantly, if you decide to own one and carry it concealed or in a holster, you'd better know how to use it and, even better, be very accurate with it. Again, training and practice are the only ways to accomplish that.

Most of what you hear about guns in the US is leftist propaganda. Unfortunately, there are criminals and mentally incompetent people out there who use guns to kill (Charlie Kirk). If someone is willing to sacrifice their life to take yours, you had better be the better shot with the most training and practice. The shooter in that case is facing the death penalty if he is found guilty.

Ximenajacoba · 26-30, F

@TexChik I didn’t think Imperial Japan wanted to invade the USA but force them to allow them free movement in their sphere of influence and the oil they needed to feed their growing industrial economy. America was using British tactics trying to contain Japan.

BrandNewMan · M

There are multitude of laws about who is allowed gun ownership, background checks, licenses to carry concealed, etc. - although some differences exist between state laws.

Looking back 50-60 years ago it was much easier to obtain a gun, but we had far less gun violence. The bigger issue is mental health issues and the decay in the moral character of people. Too many people are willing to simply shoot or kill someone outside of any need for self-defense. They do not value human life and our society is too lax in prosecution and punishment for criminals.

wildbill83 · 41-45, M

@BrandNewMan and people refuse to examine the differences between then and now...

God was still allowed in school, we still had morning prayers & pledge of allegiance, we still had hunting/gun safety classes, every misbehaving kid still knew what a leather belt or hickory switch felt like, most guys in high school (at least around here) had gun racks in their vehicles/at least one long rifle; the gun was respected, not feared, etc.

dontbekoi · 36-40, F

Gun laws vary significantly from state to state in the United States, with each state having its own specific regulations regarding firearm ownership, purchase, and carry, which are often more restrictive or permissive than federal laws. Because of the state-based nature of gun laws, the requirements for background checks, permits, and open or concealed carry can differ widely across the country, leading to a complex and inconsistent legal landscape.

Utah, for example, is a state where every 20 hours someone is killed by gun violence.

Charlie Kirk (I highly controversial character) went to Utah where 3,000 students and 6-7 policeman were there to greet him. Not smart.

wildbill83 · 41-45, M

actually, it's a common misconception that the 2nd Amendment grants the right to own and carry guns; it doesn't. The right to self defense is considered a God given/intrinsic right; the 2nd Amendment is a barrier to keep government from infringing on that right.

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

The key to the Second Amendment that seems to be mostly forgotten is that it refers to a "well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state"; in other words an official military force to be called upon in times of emergency -- such as the National Guard -- and not giving guns to every nutjob who can carry one. But the gun lobby here in the US likes to ignore the whole militia thing.

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ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@Thinkerbell The Supreme Court has, in its infinite wisdom, over the years ruled black people can be property, forced eugenics-driven sterilization is a good thing, women should not vote, etc. etc. I don't take their approval or disapproval of anything without a grain of salt and a lot of thought.

Thinkerbell · 41-45, F

@ChipmunkErnie

At least two of your examples are not well taken.

The abolition of slavery and women's national voting rights were never within the Supreme Court's power to change; the original federal Constitution left those matters up to the individual states. They both required Constitutional amendments to make them apply nationally.

For example, Wyoming had women's suffrage as early as 1869 (even before it became a state in 1890).

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@Thinkerbell Dred Scott, fugitive slave decisions, etc.. Re women's rights, it's not just voting, and yes, they varied from state to state. But my point is the Supreme Court has a long history of being on the wrong side of morality and human rights at times.

FreeSpirit1 · F

The best way to explain it is our founders started a country by forcing the crown to give up their rule by force

and without the second amendment none of the other rights we have would exist.

Ximenajacoba · 26-30, F

@FreeSpirit1 Was it written that way in the amendment ?

FreeSpirit1 · F

@Ximenajacoba it’s quite short and direct. “ 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”. The part about us not having other rights without the second amendment is just my commentary, without the means to resist tyranny the state would do what it likes. That’s how the founders were able to fight the crown. One of The first things King George tried to do when he smelled rebellion is try to limit the people from having weapons

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