by Elizabeth M Young

Created on: June 12, 2010

There is a conflict inherent to any gun control or gun rights discussion. While the consititution allows for a "well regulated militia", many have appointed themselves to a very unhealthy and poorly regulated group of people who should not be allowed anywhere near a loaded weapon. They are no one's militia, let alone a well regulated one. They are simply common citizens who are allowed to own large caches of weapons and to speak freely about their ideas.

There are sportsmen and women who get satisfaction from shooting and killing animals, a practice that predates the invention of the explosive projectile weapon. There are farmers, ranchers and rural individuals who need guns to handle predators and threats to their isolated areas. As long as shooting and killing of animals for sport or protection is legal, then they have a right to own guns and to use them under well controlled and regulated conditions.

There are criminals who use guns to regulate their individual fiefdoms in a nation that is rapidly losing control over law enforcement in the cities, highways and rural areas. The international illegal drug industry and organized crime cartels ensure that there is more than enough firepower to sustain their interests and to control their servants, customers and anyone else who would destabilize the country in a way that would jeopardize their ability to retain power and wealth.

There are many who are living in fear, who are mentally ill and who have convinced themselves that owning a weapon is the key to personal safety or personal power over others. This does not console the loved ones of the vast majority of dead gun owners and innocent victims who have died by their own hand, by accident or by murder from someone who they know.

There is no erosion of constitutional rights to a well regulated militia. There will be no erosion of constitutional rights to a well regulated militia. There is distortion and willful and deliberate misintrepretation of constitutional rights. There are lies, false claims and disturbances by individuals who have been caught out again and again.

There are regulations that are sorely needed to protect the public from itself, from predation, crime and incompetence with projectile weapons that kill far too many for no good reason every year. There are laws against sedition, treason, political coups, takeover by unelected undesireables and those who engage in other activities that threaten the safety and security of our nation.

The constitution covers a host of other rights that guns can take away within a heart beat. Safeguarding every last one of our rights trumps the needs of a minority that obsesses about gun ownership as the only right that matters.

And all of our rights, along with the safety and security of our nation is far more important than listening to those who are confused about much more than the constitution.

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