Freedom Thinker..

We have been learning that civics is the study of rights and duties of citizenship. Last week I watched a very compelling movie, Freedom Writers, for what seems like the fifth time. This movie was about gang violence and how students can overcome any obstacles they face. The movie had many shootings, and when the right to bear arms came up in a discussion, I started thinking about gun violence, gun control, and the right to bear to arms.

All Americans have to right to bear arms by the Constitution of the United States. So do you think gang members are taking advantage of this right by illegal carrying guns? With rights come great responsibility and the responsibility is yours to take advantage of. In order to legally carry a gun and also, be able to purchase a firearm you have to pass a criminal background check. But it is just as convenient for criminals and gang members who cannot pass a background check to illegally purchase guns on the “streets” or Black Market”. Thousands of innocent people die each year to violence; do you think the citizen’s right to bear arms is more important than their right to live?


I understand why this is such a controversy and can see points on both sides of the argument. As a person who desires to become a responsible citizen, I think that some people who illegally or legally carry guns do it for their own protection and there is no doubt in my mind that it has probably saved their lives on more than one occasion. However as I write this I realize that this is a tough topic to discuss and there is no right or wrong answer. The thing to consider is does the right to bear arms infringe on the rights of others and how does it affect you?