Tragically in the wake of the senseless violent incident in Roseburg, Oregon there is still talk about whether it be in political or social circles that aims to be a diversion of the real issue. That issue is gun laws and whether or no they should be enacted, there are two schools of thought in this case, either there are guns laws and that means less guns and or a ban on guns.

The other school of thought is the second amendment, the right to bear arms means I have a privilege and liberty to buy any type of arms and do whatever I please with them, provided I don’t use them to “break the law.” The problem with only seeing these two schools of thought as the mentality to have means there is no middle ground, either everyone has the right to bear arms or no one has the right to bear arms. Unfortunately, this doesn’t even began to delve into the real underlying issue that is plaguing society right now concerning arms whether it be buying, selling or using them.

What happened in Roseburg was a tragic accident that could have been somewhat negated had there been scrupulous or more no nonsense gun laws in place. The purpose of gun laws is not take away anyone’s right to bear arms. The second amendment as with anything it’s subjective however, when you take a look at it at its core in laymen’s terms it only states a body of citizens that is well organized for example, a militia have the right to bear arms and not be imposed upon from doing so. Yet, this is only in the necessary case to protect the security of a “free state.”

A “free state” according to numerous dictionaries has a connotation of a state pre- Civil War where slavery was prohibited. If we take a literal translation of the second amendment the right to bear arms is simply anyone’s decision to have and use guns for self-defense and not intended to do harm to other citizens or people. However, if this amendment was conjured up and written for a pre-Civil War era how can this still be relevant to today’s somewhat modern society? If a rule written in a time where slavery was still a legality debate is meant to be the hard and fast rule that people bring up to justify guns and less to none gun laws it’s reasonable to understand everyone’s safety and lives is in danger.

The debate about someone’s right to bear arms should not include the sentiment “it’s my second amendment right to do so” because this usually only is uttered after violent and or criminal incidents. You may have the right to bear arms but you shouldn’t have the privilege to abuse that very same right. Sentiments such as “Stuff happens” and “Hey guys, everybody attack him. He may shoot me, but he can’t get us all” and arming teachers and many others from candidates running for chance to be president are not only eerily cavalier but they are truly detrimental to society as they come off as way too tone – deaf in this day and age. The answer and or solution to minimizing the amount of incidents and mass shootings involving heavy artillery is not let’s first not acknowledge the horrific gravity of such a situation and let’s add more guns to combat guns already being used improperly.

Chris Mintz, an infantryman and father heroically tried to stop the shooter in Roseburg and he was shot nine times.   He was shot in the back, abdomen and hands, and has two broken legs. He tried his best to make sure the casualties if any were slim but at what cost to his own life. He has to learn how to walk again where as others died at the hands of the shooter.

Obviously having what the NRA describes as “shall issue” where provided you complete some requirements a “law abiding citizen” can be granted a permit to carry firearms in 36 out of the 50 fifty states is too lenient. It’s too easy to for every Tom, Richard and Harry and average Joe to walk in off the street and buy guns for recreational and or personal use. There needs to be more of a streamlined process across the board in the nation to not only prevent more tragic incidents happening but to get people walking up and smelling the carnage and harm guns are doing in the hands of people who don’t quite grasp the heavy artillery and the responsibility that comes along with it.

Currently 8 out the 50 states have very limited issue and restrictions when it comes to firearms and until that mentality is popular opinion the sad reality is these incidents will happen all too frequently. I set out to answer what happens to our safety unfortunately until gun laws connotation is transformed to you can still bear arms just not irresponsibly one’s safety is irrevocably in a state of proceed with caution.