Gun Control and the Second Amendment

Des Moines IA

Description

The Second Amendment reads as follows: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." If assault weapons such as the AR15 were banned by the government from being sold in gun stores, I don't understand how the ban would be in direct violation of the Second Amendment. The "people" would still be able to purchase and own "arms" such as handguns, rifles and shotguns. The AR15 and similar military type assault weapons were designed and manufactured for the primary purpose of killing a large number of people in a short period of time during armed conflict and war. They were not designed to be used by civilians for hunting, target practice and self protection. The term "arms"in the Second Amendment as being interpreted by some in our society could now include just about any type of military weapon. Will the next interpretation of "arms" be such that a person will be able to go to the local gun store and purchase a rocket launcher or a shoulder held artillery piece? These items could very well be classified as "arms" as that term is now being defined. I'm writing this as a retired military man who served on active duty from 1952 to 1978. I also own three handguns and I'm a firm believer in the right to bear arms but with proper background checks and restrictions as may be necessary. As far as I'm concerned, there is no reason for a civilian to own a military weapon that was designed for the sole purpose of killing people in time of war.