True Gun Control: National Sales Ban on Small Arms and Ammunition

   The discussion begins anew following each tragic event, yet the threat of gun violence is a constant part of everyday life. The ultimate answer is a national ban on the sale of all small arms and ammunition. All other attempts to regulate firearms are cumbersome and ineffectual half measures.

   James Madison introduced the Second Amendment to placate various fears regarding the military, the balance of power between the federal and state governments, and the use of standing armies. Today we have numerous federal military branches, state appointed national guard units, and militarized state and local police.

   The second Amendment should not be interpreted as an unconstrained individual right. It was intended to avoid a standing national army, which might then pose a threat to a central government. History demonstrates that military coups generally bring an end to governments.

"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."

   The civilian population of the states, not appointed or trained by the federal government but regulated in a militia, were granted the right to keep and bear arms, as opposed to a more conventional standing national army. Naturally there would have been anticipation by those considering the ratification of a national constitution, that a standing army would eventually be established and render state mustered forces unwarranted, hence the placating "shall" statement. In the Militia Clauses (U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cls. 15–16). Under the Constitution, the militia is to be available for federal service for three distinct purposes: "to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions." Congress is to organize and discipline the militia, and the states are to appoint officers and train the soldiers.

    A well regulated Militia; certainly this is not every man, women, and child. "The people," already have a well regulated Militia in my home State. They are designated as the Mile High Militia and they are called to arms by the Governor of this State. Just look at one of our F-16 fighter jets, you will see this emblazoned upon the tail. 

   I understand this issue has been ruled on. That ruling however comes from a Court appointed by an "unduly influenced" government i.e., Citizens United. Also keep in mind, even Justice Thomas does not pursue the militia argument in recent supreme court ruling's majority opinions. The Second Amendment itself was written well before the invention of modern firearms. So, if you really must have a weapon for sport or varmint control or whatever, try being sporting about it and use a black powder musket or a bow perhaps. The Constitution is not a suicide pact. Just stop selling these instruments of death.

   In this modern society there exist many alternatives for personal and home defense. Non-lethal is an option. Arms possession does not offer anyone some sort of failsafe defense. They are by nature offensive weapons and not passively defensive, e.g. like armor. Unfortunately, bad actors will always have the upper hand in this regard.

   If you say then only criminals would have guns, well that just wouldn't be true. You would also be discounting our many fine peace enforcement officers. Please understand that I am taking a long view here, focused on the sale of small arms, not legacy possession. Allow yourself to give this concept proper contemplation. Of course, this won't be easy, but doing what's right is not always the same thing as doing what's easy.

   There will be no need to "Come and take em from any ones' cold dead hands." Tempting as that standard offer may be, at times. If sales were banned, we would only have to lie in the bed that we've made for ourselves and wait for the instruments of death to fall to rust or be made into plowshares. A very long wait to be sure but throwing gas on the fire is obviously getting us nowhere. Proliferation is not a sane solution. Buyback programs could be an option. I don't have every facet etched in stone. I just want to provide an original and honest line of thought.

   No matter your place or circumstance, or where your sympathies may lie. It is singularly crucial to recognize, this is the great lynchpin of American politics. We cannot come together and move forward, until this debate is put to rest. 

   We owe it to ourselves and to all future generations, to commence to truly finding a solution to this problem now and forever.