While Americans scorn the despotism and tyranny that transcends much of the world around us, we stand with the same resilience that gives our society the freedom to shun persecution. However, in many cases we unknowingly follow the path that leads to oppression. Though it is unarguable that the freedoms bestowed upon this country come largely from the Constitution, we slowly cut the thread that enables our society to thrive?the Bill of Rights. This is how we are destroying the second amendment right to bear arms.

Many Americans have some pre-existing notion that the second amendment is useless. These people feel that guns are only useful for entertainment purposes, such as target shooting competitions. However, I highly doubt and laugh at the idea that the founders of this nation put an amendment in the constitution for entertainment purposes. The founders understood that in order for Americans to protect themselves, they needed to maintain access to the instruments in which America found its liberation. Therein, they wrote the second amendment, which states that “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 the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, then why do so many desire to strip this right from the people and make even the possession of a firearm illegal? The answer is firearm abuse. This abuse is around us, especially as displayed in the recent school shootings in San Diego.

In the wake of such events as Columbine, Heritage, and now the incidents in San Diego, many have said that they would rather relinquish some freedom in order to save lives. This is an honorable reply to violence but not an educated stance for freedom. It is my firm conviction that giving up the right to bear arms would be detrimental to our society. Therein, if we take away a right so important that the founders placed it second on the list of amendments, we then widen the opening in the door for attacks against freedom of speech, the right to assemble, and the right to life.

Furthermore, it?s not the access to guns that has changed, it?s the people of this nation who have changed. Fifty years ago (when guns were far more accessible) it would have been a shocking scene for a student to open fire on a school, though today the act has become a repetitive nightmare.

Banning guns in America is an honorable reply to violence, but it must not be carried out. If all of the honest Americans turned in their weapons, what would we have to defend ourselves with against the criminals that would soon surround us? Lest we leave the innocent with pitchforks (remember protection is why we have access to arms in the first place).

Instead of depravation, we need education. Not with silly statistics that are easily disregarded, but with the moral character that gave our nation its foundation. Let?s stop the war in the schools by fighting an internal war against desensitization. Fighting that war will allow us to stop weapons from ever getting into our schools.

Joshua Wood is an undeclared student and can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].