The Second Amendment

Arsh Tikku

June 17, 2022

In the wake of the Uvalde shooting in Texas, U.S citizens are contemplating the regulations our country has on firearm sale and ownership. The use of firearms for all reasons caused 45,010 deaths in the U.S in 2021. To compare, 42,915 people died from car accidents that year. With a death rate so high, who wouldn’t see why the regulations on firearms need to be altered?

The Second Amendment states “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.”There’s no militia in America anymore, but the citizens of the U.S are allowed to bear arms.The thing is, the Amendment also states that arms need to be well regulated, however, they are not. Which goes against what the Amendment states. Upon reaching the age of 18, a citizen can legally purchase a shotgun, rifle, and ammunition; and certain sellers do not even need to conduct a background check on the buyer. The firearm sale isn't well regulated if it allows teenagers to possess firearms with such ease. Also, the only things background checks for firearms checked against are drug use and criminal history for the average citizen. But this doesn't prevent or make it any harder for people to take their newly bought weapons and cause havoc.

Creating a safer country, while maintaining state security, means increasing the age at which a citizen can buy a gun. In addition, gun sellers should be required to make the process of getting a gun more rigorous. Since most mass shooters are 18-19 years old, this law will hopefully prevent people of or near that age group from getting these weapons. 

It’s surprising that the U.S, being one of the advanced countries in the world refuses to curb gun violence, But with the right steps- the problem can be gone once and for all.