“The Second Amendment to the Constitution: Why it is important to our nation.”

I wrote this essay for the NRA scholarship contest...

“The right to bear arms and maintain a state militia.” The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution has been a major contributor to what our country has been and will be. It is a statement of protection for America. Without the ability to protect ourselves, America would not be the dominating eagle that it so proudly claims to be. The eagle has been a symbol of power and courage for America since it was chosen as the national bird. Weapons have been used since the age of man began. The so called “cavemen” used clubs and other weapons to protect themselves and their families. They used weapons for hunting and fishing. How else would they eat? How else would they protect their families from the primitive life of the early ages of man?
Many benefits resulted from this amendment. One benefit is protection. Locke makes a strong argument that can be applied to the right to use firearms. In his “Second Treatise of Civil Government”, he states, “…Every one as he is bound to preserve himself,… ought he as much as he can to preserve the rest of mankind, and not unless it be to do justice on an offender, take away or impair another life, or what tends to the preservation of life, the liberty, health, limb, or goods of another…” He also states that, “…All this to be directed to no other end but the peace, safety, and public good of the people.” Locke clearly states that man’s natural instinct is to protect himself, his family, and his possessions. Weapons, in this case firearms, are the only way lesser people can protect themselves from that which can harm them. Without protection in our homes, crime would be increasingly abundant. Firearms, when previously loaded, make quick thinking easy. If someone walked into a person’s home attempting to rob, destroy, or kidnap something or someone within that house, they could readily be hindered from doing so. Killing is not what is implied here. An injury caused by firearms causes much less damage than a kill. Simply grazing the perpetrator’s arm or leg with a bullet would stop them in their tracks sooner than the time it took for law enforcement to arrive. Depending on the location and situation, law enforcement even uses firearms. Their firearms are a means to protect civilians. Locke, in the second statement says that it is “to no other end but the peace, safety, and public good of the people.” Law enforcement exercises what is natural to man. They help those who have no help for themselves.
Civilians should have the right to self-protection. A stereotype for rural areas is that people sit on their porches with guns. This stereotype has validity. In rural areas, many animals and people take advantage of the open space and absence of crowds. If the owner of a certain rural property has firearms, most of their problems are solved. Law enforcement could take up to an hour to arrive on the scene depending on location. By that time, the perpetrator could have already gotten away. With the assistance of firearms, the civilian has saved his family, property, and possibly his own life. If firearms were not allowed to civilians, antagonists would take advantage of this situation and illegally obtain firearms. Then, civilians would have the disadvantage. Protection would be left to what is not always a reliable source, law enforcement. Security is part of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Protection fulfills some of this security need. Without such security, people become panicky and paranoid. This problem would lead to an even deeper depression state of civilians. Pharmacists and medicine companies would be overjoyed at this. Without a means of protection, even the pharmaceutical companies would become paranoid. Events like this could be catastrophic.
America, a democracy, is known as a free country. Third world countries are an example of dictatorships. These dictators regulate everything from business and economy to the brand of toothpaste that the consumers in those countries are allowed to purchase. If they as much as attempt to brandish a knife or a gun, jail or death is their sentence. Protection from law enforcement is often not offered for citizens of these third world countries. Americans have the opportunity to benefit from both of these luxuries. Privilege characterizes America. The right to bear arms is one such privilege. To deny an American this right is simply un-American.
Hunting has been an American pastime for centuries. Immigrants from other countries brought their way of hunting from their country. It is a means of survival. Without the ability to kill our own food, vegetarianism is the only other option. Hunting is also a way to keep the animal population down. Protection from agitated wild animals seems to be a very intelligent reason for firearms to be accessible.
Militias seem like a way for well intentioned civilians to get themselves killed. This, however, is not the case. When America was in the Revolutionary War, militias were the backbone of the lesser known, but still important, battles. The British were storming their houses and eating their food. Americans could not just sit back and take this abuse. The men that were left behind from the war took it upon themselves to try and stop these unruly guests. If those men had not attempted to fight, would our country be what it is today? These militia men were as brave as any army officer. If a man was trying to “take” his wife, the husband had a firearm with which to protect her. He also had an entire village or town of men, also with firearms, to make sure it never happened again. If America suddenly went into another horrible war such as World War II, the men left behind could stand the ground for their state. The Army National Guard was founded upon militias. The Army National Guard is also a major participant in the War on Terrorism. If they were not there, our country would be suffering.
Militias and firearms go hand in hand. It seems perfectly fitting that they are in the same Constitutional Amendment. Locke’s statements of protection back up what these stand for. To say that they are not important takes all importance out of the eagle, a dominating bird. America takes pride in never backing down from a fight. Firearms keep that pride with the security in our always having protection. Understanding their importance is the first step in a more patriotic country.

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