Week in Review: Patrick Dresslar

Bearing Arms

Alongside the right to an abortion, the right to bear arms is arguably
the most contentious constitutional debate in our country.  The second
amendment, written in a less-than-satisfactory manner has been mulled
over and debated since pen was put to parchment.  For myself, I have
had painstaking internal deliberation to shape my opinion on gun
rights.  Over the years my view on the matter has steadily shifted
from steadfast pro gun control to what now is a view somewhere on the
right of the middle.  I believe that we have the right to bear arms,
but I believe the government has every right and responsibility to
regulate the manufacture and sale of firearms with due diligence in
order to protect the citizenry.

Donna Jackson's tragic tale is a perfect platform for discussion on
this divisive political issue.  She was forced into a precarious
situation where owning a gun helped protect her from harm.  The
criminal is Riley, he is breaking and entering, and Jackson has no
idea what kind of threat he is.  She is an older woman and for all she
knows he is there to rape and kill her.  She warned him, which further
justifies her actions.  If the government banned sale of guns to
citizens, people would be unable to properly protect their homes and
persons.  Criminals and killers are still going to buy guns, just
illegally.  If you make it impossible to protect oneself with a gun,
an armed criminal will run rampant.  If a criminal were breaking into
your home or threatening you with a firearm, would you rather be armed
or praying for God to spare you?  If pro gun control advocates had it
their way, there would be more victims because more people would be
unable to fight back.  Just as drugs are illegal yet still permeate
our society at every corner, making guns illegal won't eliminate guns
getting in the hands of criminals, it will only eliminate guns getting
in the hands of those who need protection from criminals.

Having said that, there need to be strict regulations on who can
purchase a gun.  Thorough background checks are required and should be
handled at the state level with proper communication with federal
agents.  I was once of the mind that less guns equals less crime, but
I now see honest citizens owning guns (or more accurately the right to
do so) as a helpful deterrent to crime, and just one of many pieces of
the puzzle of decreasing crime.

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