Everyday when you on the television news you here about the most horrific murders and violence, often using lethal firearms. These tragedies are often horrific, and even more so if you are personally a victim of them. You have to wonder what the founding fathers where thinking when they specifically gave Americans the rights own firearms.

The answer is multifaceted. A right to own a gun equals the power to state officials, who would otherwise have a monopoly on deadly force. It empowers the individual to protect him or herself. Finally, the second amendment ensures that government looks towards the roots of violence, rather then the instrument of violence.

Equal Power of Authority

A firearm does not kill or injure on it’s own, but gives the individual the possibility to do either of those things. Few people actually use firearms to kill or injure, but they give the individual a feel of authority and protection against other individuals. Rather then limit deadly force to the state, having a constitutional protection makes the individual equal to the state.

No one individual is likely to take on the state or even a major police force. Nor does the amendment advocate it, as such revolutionary interpretation would be contrary to the notion of stable government. What is advocated is that the individual be treated equally and fairly in comparison to police or other state forces, and after proper training, an individual should be equally empowered to own a firearm.

The founding fathers believed strongly in equality and where against royalty. The right to own a gun protects those rights.

Self-Protection

No law says that the police or any other state force has to come to protect you when there is an emergency. The second amendment not only states you have the right to own a firearm, it empowers the individual with the ability to protect him or herself. The individual is not a helpless victim of crime or tragic circumstances, he is empowered to act on his behalf.

The right to self-protection should not be construed narrowly as just a right to own firearms. It’s the entire right to be a self-advocate, even in non-threatening situation. It’s the right to defend one’s name, and to say what is right with the same level of authority that the state has. It’s right to be an equal at the table, even without elected or appointed position.

The founding fathers believed strongly both in property rights and believed strongly in the individual choosing his or her actions.

Focus on Root of the Problem

It’s easy to blame guns as the problems. Yet, the issues of urban violence is far more complicated then the weapon of choice in too many horrific killings. So many of the violent killers of our age suffer from mental illness, discrimination, hatred, and are economically deprived. It’s very easy to pass gun control measures, and claim to keep guns out of the hands of violent and troubling people. It’s much more difficult to change communities.

Addressing the problems of our cities is the challenge for our generation, much like it was for previous generations. It will not be easy to turn our troubled cities around, or end urban gun violence, but more restrictions on firearms will not be the first step. Instead, we need to change the way we fund our cities, spend more on urban education, and try to bring more people out of poverty and discrimination.

We must also address the mental health crisis in our country. Our society lacks sufficient mental health counselors to help those in need. Those who want help can not always afford to pay for mental health services.