Second Amendment Rights And Gun Control

One of the most talked about topics in the United States today deals with Second Amendment Rights, especially as it relates to gun control. Just because guns are known by some people as a dangerous entity, they could also save the American people from danger. In light of the Sandy Hook incident, it begs the question: would teachers carrying firearms have helped? Ultimately, concealed weapons would have saved more lives than it took that particular day. The Second Amendment has “focused on whether it protects the right of individuals to keep and bear arms, or a right that can be exercised only through militia organization like the National Guard” (Lund and Winkler 1). Today, of course, we have this both ways. “Many in the founding generation

The incident occurred on April 16, 2007, at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. A twenty-three-year-old undergraduate student named Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed thirty-two people and injured an additional seventeen others before committing suicide” (Cooper 2). Additionally, “...the [shooting] caused many to criticize the school and police for not warning students of potential danger. It was later revealed that Cho had a long history of depression and mental illness… The college administrators received a great amount of criticism for not taking certain actions that would have reduced the number of casualties” (Cooper 2). This again demonstrates how critical it is to train teachers and personnel on the importance of knowing how to react in these types of situations. “The tragedy did prompt President George W. Bush to sign into law the first federal gun control measure in over a decade” (Cooper 2). School security measures have increased. “Besides the installation of metal detectors at the school entrances and hiring security guards at some schools, there have been several studies on the various factors that could possibly lead to incidents of studies on the various factors that could possibly lead to incidents of school violence and steps to prevent violent incidents before they happen” (Cooper

Tragedies have led to the modification of gun laws and the reexamination of the treatment of those who suffer from mental illness” (Cooper 5). “In the 2000s, the issue of gun control still reflected regional concerns. Where hunting is a part of life and leisure, as it is in the South and Northeast and in rural areas, guns are cherished. In contrast, the Northeast and urban settings tend to favor gun control… Democrats are viewed more often as pro-gun control, and Republicans are seen as pro gun” (Pizzo 1). “Most gun owners are responsible, law-abiding citizens. They believe in handling guns safely, being trained to use guns appropriately, and following the law, however much they may disagree with gun-control laws” (Bjorklund 25). “ Mike Pence, a Republican congressman from Indiana [now Vice President], stated, I maintain that firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens makes communities safer, not less safe” (Bjorklund 30). This is a perfect reason why teachers with special training should be able to carry