George Mason, the co-author of the Second Amendment to the Constitution once stated, “I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” Freedom from slavery is the reason many people came to this country, and the right to bear arms is a fundamental part of this freedom. Gun control is a type of slavery that many people do not recognize. Civilian possession of handguns should not be banned in the United States. The Second Amendment protects individuals’ rights to own guns. This right has been protected since the very beginning of our country. The Second Amendment states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the …show more content…
It often takes up to fifteen minutes for a police officer to arrive at a crime scene or a place where there is danger. That is enough time for more harm to be done or for a criminal to get away. Therefore, people need a way to defend themselves. Barbara Holt of Kearns, Utah and her husband were trapped in their bathroom with a criminal outside threatening them with death. In a moment of distraction, Holt was able to slip into her bedroom and grab her .22 pistol. Holt shot the aggressor in the head, stopping the attack (Kopel). Just imagine what would have happened if Holt had not had a gun. Evidently, citizens need to be able to use guns to defend themselves when the police cannot. Some people may say that if guns were banned, criminals would not be able to get hold of them, and most crimes would disappear. This sounds like the perfect solution; however, it is not true. Criminals will always find a way to obtain guns, leaving law-abiding citizens defenseless. Since 1976, it has been illegal to own a handgun or to keep any gun from your home unlocked and fully assembled in Washington, D. C.; however, it is the “murder capital of the world” (Kopel). As you can see, banning guns does not eliminate