Letter: The Second Amendment

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Editor,

I believe the second amendment needs to be evaluated not replaced. At the time the second amendment was authored our country was 90 percent wilderness, the most sophisticated weapon was a single-shot muzzleloader. This was a smooth-barreled weapon, no rifling, that you could not hit anything with at a distance of 20 yards. We also thought the British might return.

Today, I don’t believe anyone has an issue with a person who wants to hunt, have a means of self-defense, or even collect weapons, but my concern is with military weapons in civilian hands. We in the United States have 5 percent of the world’s population, yet we are responsible for 30 percent of the world’s casualties from mass shootings. It is my understanding this 30 percent mass shooting does not include the nightly shooting in our cities. Half of the guns in the world are in the United States. The other half are owned by people in other countries and some of those countries control the ammunition for the guns. Switzerland is one example. Every young man has to qualify as a marksman with a military weapon, after he qualifies he keeps the weapon and the government keep the ammunition. I don’t believe a civilian needs a military type weapon, with a 50-round banana clip, which by the way, that military weapon can be converted to essentially a fully automatic weapon with a $15 purchase on the internet. You don’t need 50 rounds to drop a deer, defend yourself or collect antique weapons.

The amount of money the NRA contributed to lawmakers in this last election was $54 million. Does that amount of money taint a lawmaker’s stance on gun control? I would also like to see a change in the NRA’s rhetoric of paranoia.

After Sandy Hook, “The Joker” in a move theater, Florida night club shooting and Las Vegas concert shootings, I am sure I am wasting my time voicing my opinion about gun control, but I sure feel a lot better. I am David Marsh – a parent, grandparent, great grandparent and retired teacher. I own two shotguns and a lever action .22 rifle. As a younger man, I enjoyed hunting and still respect people who also enjoy hunting.

As I previously stated, I support the second amendment, but more than 200 years have passed since its inception, and our world has changed considerably over that time. We need to evaluate what makes sense today and focus on regulations that protect innocent lives.

Dave Marsh, Noblesville           


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