Okay, everyone, read along with us…
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
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.
See that second word there, the second word of the Second Amendment?
Well-regulated!
Why do gun enthusiasts always fail to read that word or else purposefully disregard it? They only seem to acknowledge the final phrase, “shall not be infringed.”
So let’s be clear. Requiring registration of guns, i.e. making them “well-regulated,” does not infringe on anyone’s rights any more than requiring people to stop for red lights infringes on their rights to walk or drive. It simply keeps them safe, just as red lights do.
People will still have every right to “bear Arms” even though they are not actually members of any “Militia.” But as the Second Amendment makes clear, those rights are to be regulated, that is, owners of firearms need to follow the laws of the land, be they State, Local, and/or Federal.
It’s really not complicated. Nor objectionable.
And that’s all we’re asking.
In fact, here at Treat Guns Like Cars, we would further argue that a person’s unwillingness to follow laws regarding gun ownership could be seen as a clear indication that they intend to disregard other laws as well. And that thought can arguably be expanded to include people who do not wish there to be any future enactment of laws regarding gun ownership – that their respect for the rule of law is seriously lacking.
But we prefer to think that the vast majority of the gun-owning public are thoroughly law-abiding citizens. Perhaps they just haven’t thought through their opposition to gun regulation enough to realize what a boon it could be for the country they love, keeping them and their loved ones safe.
No one from the government will be coming to “take your guns away.” They’ll simply want you to register them. No big deal.