Gun-owner or not, you can’t deny that the Second Amendment is part of the Constitution, and therefore a core of our American values. One of the most debated, hated, and misinterpreted amendments, the Second Amendment is as old as this country, and its benefits are even older. The Founding Fathers, in their wisdom, knew that men love nothing more than to strip their fellow man of God-given rights, so they gave us the Second Amendment. Nothing keeps tyranny at bay like the Second Amendment, and nothing preserves our American way of life like the Second Amendment. So on 2A Day, let’s explore 5 reasons to talk 2A.

It’s Your Right

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re human. And if that’s so, then the Second Amendment is your right. Americans just wrote it down. It was the second thing our Founding Fathers put in the constitution, it enabled them to defeat the largest military force of their time, and it is what kept that military force away after the fact. Though they don’t act like it, it is our government’s job to preserve our rights and safeguard them. If they don’t, then it is up to us to do it. Talking about 2A and understanding its importance will allow us to ensure all of our God-given, inalienable, human rights are protected. 

This incredibly important amendment is deeply ingrained in our culture but has a million lies constantly surrounding it. As a result, it is more and more vital that we discuss the importance of the Second Amendment with our children, friends, family, and community. 

Our Greatest Defense

In 1938 Hitler signed the Gun Control Act and mere weeks later the Reich carried out Kristallnacht, during which 30,000 Jewish men and boys were rounded up and sent to concentration camps. From there the holocaust was in full swing—without any resistance from the now unarmed citizens. 

In 1929, the Soviet Union established strict gun control laws. Between the years 1929 and 1953, 20 million people were rounded up and killed. 

Armenians, under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, were prohibited from owning guns under threat of death. Between the years 1915 and 1916, nearly 1 million Armenians were genocided. 

In Cambodia, Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge regime spent the years 1975-1979 killing, displacing, impoverishing, and torturing millions of citizens. The country had had strict gun control laws and instituted a confiscation that allowed the government to stockpile weapons since 1956.

These instances are only a hundred years old or less. Time and time again, history and the fallen nature of man has proven that guns are a citizen’s greatest defense. They are the first thing that tyrannical governments ban, they are the biggest thing that make citizens equal to their governments and therefore feared by their government—which is exactly as it should be. The government might have an army at its command, but we, the people, are an army.

Gun Safety

Another great reason to constantly discuss 2A is because everyone should be well-versed in gun safety. Whether you own a gun or not, it is vital to understand the power of these weapons. Proper handling, proper cleaning, proper shooting etiquette, and more are vital parts of gun safety that can save lives. We all know the story of Alec Baldwin: it is never safe to assume a gun is not lethal. 

A broad knowledge of guns and how to properly handle them, saves lives in more ways than one. 

You can find shooting classes and safety courses from multiple sources in your community, such as: 

• NRA Courses
• Community College Public Safety Centers (like this one)
• Your State Police
• Kids Safe Foundation
• International Hunter Education Association U.S.A.
• And more! Simply Google your state and Firearm Safety Courses

Hunting

Often brought up in relation to the Second Amendment, hunting is a great reason to continue to fight for the preservation of our gun-owning rights. We are all about self-sufficiency and removing our reliance on systems out of our control. Owning a gun, knowing how to use it safely, and learning how to hunt are primary ways we can provide for ourselves if the grocery store shelves are empty. 

Any proposed 2A restrictions might start small, but they will inevitably grow larger to encompass all guns and restrict your every move as a gun owner. 

Sports & Scholarships

If you or your child is looking for a sport, try shooting! Rifle and marksmanship scholarships are real and offered by most colleges, making shooting a great sport to take part in. This sport will also teach you everything you need to know about guns and gun safety!