The Voice - Student Newspaper

The Second Amendment: Abuse it and lose it

Have you ever tried to start a "Bring your Gun to School Day"? When you were hopping on a plane for Labor Day weekend, did you pack your peacemaker in your carry-on luggage? If you answered 'Yes' to either of these questions, then I want to know when we started delivering The Voice to local prisons.

You see, my gun-toting conservative friends, take heart that there are limitations to every amendment in the Bill of Rights.

I cannot yell "fi re" in a theatre. Police may search (and seize!) my belongings with probable cause. But let's not get caught up in the legal mumbo-jumbo, and instead focus on the issue at hand: President Barack Obama's last visit to Arizona. In case you weren't aware of this event, the brief overview is that President Obama recently spoke to esteemed veterans of the valley, President Obama's arrival sparked rallies and protests in regards to health care reform. Amongst those against tampering with our current medical system were a handful of activists carrying guns. The most infamous of them being a man with an AR 15 slung over his shoulder. I'm no firearms expert, but that looks like one efficient killing machine to me. My question is, why bring a load AR15 to a peaceful rally? The idea of a peaceful protest is to practice your first amendment right to freely speak, assemble and petition; fight with nothing more than words.

If any serious violence were to break out, the secret service could kill a threat on sight. The general answer to what brings a loaded firearm to a peaceful rally is just 'Because we can, and because this is our right.' I have the right to do a lot of stupid things.

If you care so much about having the right to bear arms, then you should show some respect and put them away before stepping near the commander in chief of our country. If you don't, it won't be long before the government turns to repeal your second amendment right.

Please send comments to taric@gccvoice.com