Guns? No guns? Some guns?

It's been a while since I've had time to write a blog and I decided today I needed to take time and write about the new hottest issue in the news this week- guns and the 2nd amendment.

The first thing I want to say is this is first and by far an opinion, my opinion.  I welcome a healthy exchange of ideas, but will NOT tolerate derogatory comments. If you have a comment or suggestion please provide cites for your argument.

Next, understand that I am a gun owner. I have been pretty much since I've been old enough to hold one by myself and shoot.  At one time I did belong to the NRA and bought into some of those arguments. (I have since evolved and grown)

I  have no issue with people owning guns. I have issues with the lack of respect so many of those gun owners have for the destruction a firearm can do.

For example, a few months ago a woman was driving in rush hour traffic in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Her toddler, strapped in his car seat in the back seat of the car, picked up the loaded handgun and shot his mother in the back of the head.

We see numerous similar tragedies each and every day. People who think they need a gun 'for protection' but have no real idea how to handle a weapon.

I am adocating that rules need to be changed. There needs to be reasonable gun control in this country.

About now those staunch supporters of individuals to own firearms will be ready to cite the 2nd amendment. So, lets take a look at that piece of the Bill of Rights.

Here is the 2nd amendment in its entirety as posted on the National Archives website:

Amendment II

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.                                                                                                                                                                                 

So, lets take a look at this verbiage shall we? 

The first phrase is the first clue what the Framers intended. "A well regulated Militia".  It's clear to me, considering the time this document was written, that this amendment was intended to provide men the ability to provide assistance when the fledgling nation needed a military response. 

The next phrase, "being necessary to the security of a free State" pretty straight forward- protection of the new nation- nothing so far about individual rights in this context. 

Ahhhhh but the next phrase: "the right of the people o keep and bear Arms." this is the crux of the whole gun debate. along with the last "shall not be infringed". 

It is the last two phrases that so many people are focusing on rather then the amendment as a whole. It is clear to me, as the new Nation did NOT have an army, rather an militia, they depended upon the average man(farmers, shopkeepers, longshoremen whoever) to take up arms and fight for the county when called upon. 

Nowhere does it say, oh yeah by the way you all can use them to shoot others just because  you feel the need to protect your individual stuff.

Over the decades it has evolved to include individual rights. I don't believe that is what the Framers meant, but that is the reality now. 

Now, our country has reached a crisis as it pertains to guns. I see bandied about social media and the  news about 'those Muslims, or those refugees or, well  you get the picture. When the reality is, ANY person can become unhinged enough to pick up a gun and start shooting. It makes no difference what your background is. 

Let's not forget the shootings at Columbine, Crandon, the Tech school, the black church-- and more, all of which were done by individuals that were mentally unstable (and not Muslim terrorists by the way)

Something MUST be done. 

A start would be closing the loops for gun sales. Better and more thorough background checks. Longer waiting periods. Licensing, testing to shoe a degree of proficiency of use, licensing renewal and yes insurance. Banning military grade weaponry for individuals. 

How about not allowing firearms for those on the no-fly list? Or on the terrorist watch list?  Or requiring all firearms to be locked up unless in  use (similar to the U.K. rules) 

I would also like to see money set aside for the CDC and others to do some research into gun and related issues. Which by the way is currently banned/discouraged by the Republican controlled congress. It raises the question, for me anyway, is what are they afraid will be reveled if such studies were conducted. 

While this is not the whole answer, it would be a start.