Gun Rights should have some Controls. ((This was going to be my post for July 4th))

Last week, SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) upheld ruling on the second amendment.  In today’s California Forum (in my local newspaper the Sacramento Bee) They had several editorials on the subject of Gun Control.

Now according to my fiancé, my political correctness filter is still in place, so I may seem hypocritical in what I am about to say, but after reading the columns, I have to agree with both views. Our amendment rights should be protected, first and foremost. But I also think that there should be some control on the sales of firearms.

There are several California State laws, that I think are good. I could just be naïve, but, hear me out.

In 1991, California passed a law that Handgun purchasers must obtain safety training and certificates before buying a weapon. To me that’s smart, everyone who has a weapon should know how to handle the weapon before given the chance to have one in the home. To me, it shows competence. 

In 1993, background checks for all gun buyers. Again, to me it’s smart. If you’re convicted of a violent crime or misdemeanor, you are barred from owning or buying a gun. I don’t know how it is in the rest of the country concerning this however.

In 1994, Firearms can’t be carried within 1,000 feet of schools either public or private. For as long as I’ve been paying attention to the news, I don’t remember any school shootings IN California in the last 15 years or so… I could be wrong in my assessment.

I just think that when it comes to firearms in general, COMMON SENSE should have precedence concerning laws and controls that some may find that it limits the second amendment. I know some out there are thinking Government that interferes with it’s peoples rights guaranteed by our constitution is bad. But sometimes, I think, they have some good ideas.

I know that if people really wanted to buy a gun and the gun store won’t let them, they will find a way to buy an unregistered one out of someone’s trunk somewhere. The chances that that gun will be used in a violent crime are high, I just don’t want to be the one that that gun is used on, or anyone that I know or love. Like my fiancé always says, the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.

I also know that it is impossible to make a world without guns now as well, people need ways to defend themselves, it’s in human nature to protect what is theirs by any means necessary. How many people carry pocket knives with them?