The Police Put Their Guns Down. And Got Shot Anyway. (Purple State, USA)

The second amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads as follows: "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."

I have to confess... I like the feel of a handgun; I enjoy shooting clay targets in an open field with a rifle or a shotgun. Likewise, I love the sight of all things U.S. military, from the U.S.S. Constitution to a B-2 Bomber to an F-22. Despite that, I have zero desire to point a firearm at anything living and cause it harm without a damn good reason.

I realize that not everyone who gets their hands on these weapons is as thoughtful or as deliberate as myself, so it's not hard to grasp why there is so much controversy around this amendment. I understand that in our desperation to prevent violent shootings it is tempting to suggest the elimination of guns entirely. Some even have fantastical notions that perhaps if the United States would just disband its military, then the rest of the world might follow suit.

We conveniently forget that the world has suffered violence for centuries prior to our country's inception; that we are not, in fact, the originators of all of this globe's problems. We forget that the majority of gun owners are responsible, vigilant individuals we would want well-armed if the situation ever called for it; that there's a reason we don't send our police or our military out to fight the bad guys with simply a note stating they are unarmed and, therefore, any scrupulous criminal will extend the same courtesy. We forget that drugs did not disappear the day they became illegal; likewise, guns will not disappear if they are outlawed. The only people impacted would be the people following the laws to begin with.

I don't want my children living in a violent world anymore than anyone else. The problem is--the reality is--, they do. They do. And limiting their ways of protecting themselves, of not becoming victims, isn't the way to prepare them for it.

Freedom has many enemies, but none so great or so potentially devastating as fear. We simply cannot allow those who abuse our civil liberties to strip us of them. We aren't in elementary school; we have to figure out how to punish Johnny for his offenses, not the entire class.

Our forefathers gave us the right to bear arms in order that we might be able to protect our way of life... to deter an undemocratic government, help defend against invasion and aid with self defense--as necessary--in our individual lives. Is that not still a legitimate need in our society? And, even if some might contend it's not, can we say with 110% certainty that it never will be again? Anyone want to guess whether it would be easier to keep this right or try to get it back once we realize we need it?