Grand Prize
Category 1 – 11th and 12th graders
Melissa Rainer
Grade 11
The Original Intent of the Second Amendment
On March 3, 2011, an 84-year-old woman woke up around 12a.m. and noticed her hall light was on. The woman, nicknamed ‘Gun Toting Granny’, swiftly got out of bed and grabbed her .38 caliber revolver from her nightstand just in time to encounter a male intruder entering her bedroom. Seeing the weapon the man turned and fled, narrowly missing the bullet the woman shot after him. The granny’s son commented, “My mom has the will to live. She loves life. She wants to be here.”[1] This is just one of the numerous stories we hear about how the proper use of our Second Amendment rights protects innocent citizens from intruders. The Second Amendment states, “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.” From the Second Amendment’s history, citizen gun liberties and individual or collective rights, the Second Amendment is one of the most controversial topics in America’s contemporary political activity.
The Bill of Rights was written because of the Anti-Federalist’s conflict with the government. Anti-Federalists were people filled with distrust and fear of the new federal government. Based on the Anti-Federalist’s distrust, the Bill of Rights was written to assure the people that the government would not misuse their powers.[2] Nestled inside the Bill of Rights is one of our most important amendments: the Second Amendment. Why is the Second Amendment important? This amendment provides individuals with the authorization to own a gun to protect themselves and their family from intimidating harms and the overuse of the government’s powers. This is why the subsequent half of the Second Amendment states, “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” The Second Amendment places our protection liberties at an equal level to the government.[3]
Where did our founding fathers originally obtain the idea to give individual gun rights to people? The early English law required their English citizens to own their own arms to assist the local police services and the nation’s military. This made gun ownership not a person’s personal defense, but rather a government requirement. As the government continued this control, the English people realized that they needed individual gun protection rights for themselves.[4] Years later after James the 2nd was dethroned, the Parliament wrote and published in 1689, the English Bill of Rights. This document sought to give people their individual freedom rights to own a weapon for their own protection. The colonies that traveled to America for Christian freedom carried on the English citizen’s firm belief for citizens to own their own personal weapons. However, the English government was against the colonies having gun rights and attempted to violate the American colonies’ individual protection. This led to the historical Revolutionary War, where the colonists’ “minutemen” and the British’s “redcoats” fought for power. The patriots kept to their standards – they did not use their guns unless the British Army violated their liberties by force. Thankfully, the victory of the Colonists in the Revolutionary War began the structure of a new stronger government in America. The Constitution began to take shape, and amendments were written to give all citizens personal rights.4
Gun control is a highly controversial issue viewed at from two different perspectives: individual or collective rights. People who believe in individual rights believe that the Second Amendment was created for people to keep and own guns for their own personal protection. People who believe in individual rights believe what the Second Amendment stands for: individual gun protection allowance without government interference. On the other hand, people who believe in collective rights argue that the Second Amendment is based on the militia only. They say that abolishing the Second Amendment will lower crime and murder rates. These people strongly believe that the Second Amendment was only to keep our militia well equipped with weapons for our nation’s defense.[5] Today, quantities of people declare that the Second Amendment is relatively useless, because they believe we do not need to protect ourselves from government oppression anymore. They claim that government tyranny has ended and people are fairly comfortable and acquainted with the government. However, citizens need to recall that our freedoms are due to the Bill of Rights. Our founding fathers composed a constitution with amendments for our personal liberties! Eradicating our Second Amendment rights will bestow the government permission to rule our important individual protection rights. If the government is given permission to withhold our rights what will happen? Government Domination!!! Do not laugh with incredulity – this oppression can occur! Recall various countries, such as Libya or China, whose citizens are under government oppression because they are defenseless from the government. Patrick Henry (politician who led the movement for independence in Virginia) stated, “Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”[6]
Today, many people query whether or not the Second Amendment is against Biblical standards. The Bible strongly advocates against violence and murder, but permits needed self-defense. We read Exodus 22:2, “If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.” My dear readers, there is a vast difference between self-defense and murder! Genesis 9:6 states a direct punishment for murderers here, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” The Bible is the one and only true source in which we can obtain ultimate freedom and protection from those who attempt to harm us. God has provided us with the Constitution, the one true identity of Americans’ freedom to protect ourselves from surrounding harms. Patrick Henry announced in his famous inspirational liberty speech, “. . .but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”[7] Together, we must strive to keep our liberties intact so we can also keep and continue to loudly proclaim, “Long live liberty! Long live freedom! Long live the United States of America!!!”
[1] KTVU.com/News “Gun Toting Granny Scares Away Intruder” March 4, 2011/March20, 2011 http://www.ktvu.com/news/27075260/detail.html
[2] Rick Lynch “The Roots of the Second Amendment”(p.315) May 2008/March 9, 2011 http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0805e.pdf
[3] 2nd Amendment Right Muster & Education Day (2 Armed) “The 2nd Amendment” Copyright ã 2000-2003/March 9, 2011
http://www.usa2076.com/2armed/second.htm
[4] Andrew M. Wayment “The Second Amendment: A Guard For Our Future Security” ã /March10, 2011
[5] Western Front America: Conservative Commentary and Opinion
“Individual Rights VS the Collective” August 14, 2009 / March 11, 2011
http://www.westernfrontamerica.com/2009/08/14/individual-rights-vs-the-collective/
[6] The Patrick Henry Caucus of the United States “Guard with Jealous Attention the Public Liberty” Copyright ã 2010 / March 31, 2011
http://patrickhenrycaucususa.com/?s=Public+Liberty
[7] Colonial Williamsburg: That the Future May Learn From the Past “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” ã 2011 / March 31, 2011
http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm
Biographical sketch:
Melissa Rainer is a fifteen year old junior and has been home schooled through CLASS for twelve years. She lives in Taylors, South Carolina near Lake Robinson with her sister, four brothers, and parents.
Melissa enjoys reading, gardening, drawing designs, writing essays, listening to music, sketching portraits, babysitting, and photography. She also enjoys family based activities.
Melissa’s life verse is 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. These verses inspire Melissa to live for and be an ambassador for Christ because of His profound love in dying for our sins.