Right To Bear Arms Essay

The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution drafted by James Madison for the purpose of protecting the rights of individual citizens. The Second Amendment, the amendment that outlines the rights of individuals to bear arms, is in the spotlight of current American politics. With tighter gun laws in some states in attempt to control violent crime, this amendment has become an increasingly controversial topic over the last decade. The Second Amendment faces harsh criticism, but it is the right to bear arms that is helping to keep our churches, schools and public places safe. The Second Amendment states, “A well regulated militia necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The framers of the Bill of Rights included the Second Amendment in this pivotal document as a means of preserving the right of self-defense to individual Americans. Partially influenced by the English Law and the English Bill of Rights, both of which include the right to keep and bear arms, the writers maintained that this right aids in upholding the freedoms and safety of the people. Certainly in modern times statics have …show more content…
This powerful and influential group did not initially come together to become the force in American politics that it has become. The organization was founded in 1871 for the purpose of developing the shooting skills of military reservists, and later to influence the founding of the “Civilian Marksmanship Program,” a program meant to “advance marksmanship training to the general public.” (1) The NRA did not become involved in the political world until 1977, when the rights of American citizens were becoming jeopardized by the gun control advocates. At this time, the NRA became closely aligned with the Republican