Why Should We Have the Right to Keep and Bear Arms?

            The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns the Second Amendment right to “keep and bear arms.” This guaranteed freedom is always under attack from liberals, but sometimes the assaults are more forceful than others. Mass shootings tend to bring louder cries that guns need to be controlled.

As in most things, liberals do not care to know the facts regarding to guns. They cannot seem to understand that taking arms away from responsible gun owners will do nothing to control the guns used to commit crimes. It is even more difficult for them to understand that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens can be beneficial to society.

Amy Swearer and Cooper Conway published an article about guns at The Daily Signal. The article referenced a 2013 report published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report noted that “almost all major studies on defensive gun uses have concluded that Americans use their firearms in self-defense between 500,000 and 3 million times every year.” The article then noted numerous instances where law-abiding citizens used guns for self-defense in October 2019. Here are just the first three on their list.

·         Oct. 2 in Conroe, Texas: A business owner who had previously been victimized by burglars was inside his store around 2 a.m. when he heard the sound of breaking glass and went to investigate. A man armed with a crowbar confronted the store owner, who defended himself by firing several rounds at the would-be burglar, striking him at least twice. The would-be burglar tried to run away, but ultimately succumbed to his wounds.  

·         Oct. 6 in Pulaski County, Missouri: An armed citizen came to the aid of a sheriff’s deputy as the deputy struggled with a knife-wielding attacker. The deputy was investigating a disabled vehicle when one of the vehicle’s occupants attacked the deputy with a knife, wrestled him to the ground, and attempted to unholster the deputy’s sidearm. The deputy suffered several cuts and bruises, but the situation was contained when the armed citizen and other vehicle occupants intervened, allowing the deputy to handcuff his attacker. The sheriff’s department praised the actions of the citizens, saying it was “overwhelmed with gratitude” for their willingness to help ensure the deputy’s safety. 

·         Oct. 9 in Fort Worth, Texas: A homeowner caught a man breaking into his truck in the early hours of the morning and held the would-be burglar at gunpoint until police arrived. 

There are numerous other instances on the list. I noticed in all three instances that each private citizen used their gun for self-protection, protection for someone else, or for property protection. All three instances could have resulted in injury or death for the citizen, but the offenders were brought to justice. It goes without saying that millions of law-abiding citizens use their privately-owned guns to do good things, and they should be allowed to continue to do so.