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. -Amendment II of The U.S. Constitution

This amendment holds two rights, the first of which is often overlooked and the second is highly

controversial. 

    

    A militia is the volunteer military force of a state. This is yet another part of the Constitution that 

secures the power of the states. There are many reasons the states need militias, such as the federal 

government cannot try to take more power than they are given in the Constitution without a fair amount of 

resistance from the states.

   

     The second right is the freedom to keep and bear arms. This right is just as important as any of the 

others in the Amendments. Without the freedom to have weapons, American citizens would be helpless. 

We wouldn't be able to defend our families or hunt. 

    Although this right  states  the freedom to bear arms shall not be infringed, it is. Some cities restrict who 

is allowed to have a gun, and of course condemned criminals can never have any. There are many people 

who believe guns should be outlawed  and only be used by the government, but this is entirely 

unconstitutional! Besides, murderers and thieves would still find a way to smuggle them in. Destroying 

this important amendment would only render lawful citizens defenseless, increasing the number of 

shootings because there would be no good guy with a gun to stop the bad guy. Indeed, sometimes there is 

no one to stop them anyway. These cases are tragic, but we must weigh each side fairly. When it all adds 

up, I come to the conclusion that this right is essential to the past, present, and future of America.