Can anyone tell me why we need a right to bear arms?

Question

I have never understood this ridiculous constituional provision. Can anyone explain it?

Answer 1

To protect ourselves!

Answer 2

America is a country of rights and opportunity. One is innocent until proven guilty. Any rights not explicitly stated in the constitution are reserved for the states. In this spirit of America, the right to bear arms was given to us by the founding fathers.

From a historical perspective, America had just finished a revolutionary war in which common men defended their country from the invading British. The new government knew that having an armed population might help protect foreign invasions in the future, so the government gave the people that right.

Answer 3

At the time the Constitution was written, the US was at war with England because England was being overbearing. The US wanted to make sure that if an overbearing government was ever installed that US citizens would have guns so that they could overthrow it like the US did to England.

As far as these days, it can be debated whether this provision is antiquated. In my opinion, I think that it is always a good idea to allow people the power to control the government so that we don't end up with a total tyrant. I think that this can best be done through allowing individuals to bear arms.

Answer 4

You have to remember that the Framers of the Constitution were indeed Colonials, and that their mind set at the time was that they needed to be prepared for another attack by England, since they just recently won their Independence, and since they did not have the Army we have today then they needed ever possible person to help fight if such an incursion were to happen. Hence 'the right to bear arms' was to protect themselves if they were to be attacked again. Clearly this 'right' has been outdated and Conservatives use it as an excuse to have guns, but it is our duty as citizens to keep the government in check.

Sorry for such a long explanation.

Answer 5

Because in America we are free, not living under Tyranny. Taking away rights just because you don't like them is tryannical, and usually the first step taken by dictators, Communist, and Socialist governments.

If you study history with an open mind its not hard to understand why our founding fathers put the right to bear arms in an ammendment to the constitution. They realized that sometimes Governments run amok, and when that happens the people have a right to revolt. Without arms this is impossible.

I think a more telling question is why people like you would rather give up rights instead of embrace freedom?

Answer 6

Whether we need it or not, the Second Amendment is part of the Bill of Rights, which the Founding Fathers found so important they called them the Rights Which We Hold True. The Bill of Rights (first 10 Amendments) are not to be changed, and can not be changed, by law. If we were to give in, change them because we no longer think it is valid, how soon until the right to free speech, the press, freedom from quartering, search and seizure, the right vote, all become obsolete in someone's opinion, and removed.

No, need it or not, it must stand, because it is part of what we stand for, as a nation, from day one.

Answer 7

It wasn't so ridiculous when it went in. After having participated in a war on American soil, the founding fathers recognized that allowing people to carry weapons freely would do 2 things.
1: Allow for a speedy draft of already gun-trained milittia
2: Provide an insentive for future governments to be fair and just. (Theres nothing like a heavily armed populace to make a leader think twice before screwing his country over)

Now, the ammendment has been perverted because the US millitary has advanced beyond commercially available firearms and urban and suburban congestion has brought people much closer to together (as opposed to farms) increasing civillian gun violence.

Answer 8

Well, back when the constitution was written, the "army" was mostly a bunch of local militias. Having a gun was your way of saying you were in the army and would defend it against the British or any other threat. America didn't want a large standing army, so these local militias were the only source of protection. There was also less gun violence back then, at least how we see it today (there were very few people who took their gun and robbed the local General Store). In those times, it just made sense. Nowadays, it is more debatable.

Answer 9

When they get drugs off the streets then you can tell me the right to bear arms is ridiculous. If they take away my right to own a weapon to defend myself my family and the Constitution of the United states then the only ones with guns will be the criminals and the tyrants. We must defend and keep our liberty and our freedom the only way to do that is with a weapon. Sorry to say it.Freedom isn't free. But our country is to violent.
On the other hand if you want to change our violent society don't take away freedom. Free yourself form the bondage of the news media and The corporations who want people to live in a constant state of fear in order to sell soap. Your going to get cancer your going to get robbed your going to get too fat every day Americans are bombarded with violence and fear based brain washing. Poverty and a sense of hopelessness. brought to us by the people who feel air craft carriers are more important than schools Guns serve a purpose when in the hands of good people. Don't buy things from the bad ones and you will change the number of guns people have a right to have.

Answer 10

To protect ourselves from an unjust government. If the people cannot defend themselves agains the government, then whoever controls the military can end the democracy. That was the thinking. Of course, the government no longer allows us to own tanks and fighter jets so I'm not sure we could defend ourselves.

But it's also handy when a drug-crazed psycho breaks into your house.

Answer 11

We have a constitutional right to bear arms because our forefathers lived in a time where the military forces had all the power and normal every day citizens had no weapon of defense against them and no way of obtaining them. To keep the military from gaining this form of power over citizens here in America, we were given the right to bear arms and defend ourselves, our homes, and our families with force.