The recent shootings have stirred up a lot of heated debates on the topic of gun control. I personally wanted to avoid the topic, but the public felt much differently. I don’t like to be at the center of any form of controversy but I feel obligated to state the facts and include some feedback on the topic. The most common question received was why I haven’t stood up for our Second Amendment rights and what was my viewpoint?

Due to changes in language over time, our interpretation of the Second Amendment must be based on definitions dating to the time of its inception. I must first admit, I’ve read the amendment many times, but admittedly did not understand it well enough to speak on the topic. The amendment states: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Here are the key words using definitions of the period. “Regulated” pertains to being trained in the art of, which was refering to fire arm usage. A “militia” is a military comprised of citizens, not pertaining to a state or government military. The “people” was referring to a collective group made up of individuals. Individuals not involved in other forms of military! “Keep” was to possess, own and have immediate access to, “bear” meaning to carry and to have at the ready. “Keep and Bear” were also pertaining to gun possession, concealed or exposed. The Second Amendment was written and adopted to prevent a possible disarmament of Americans in the future. In short, we must remember the American Revolution, in part, was a direct response to the British attempt at disarming our young nation.

I personally believe an opinion formed on first-hand experience tends to be more focused. In 1986 there was a shooting at the school I attended. I was in fourth grade, but was immediately able to form an opinion. My opinion was based on the question, “What would have happened had someone from the school been armed?”

Not surprising to me this is one of the most common questions asked in a response supporting armed protection at schools. Children tend to rapidly arrive at a conclusion based on their life experiences. At that time, mine consisted of fight fire with fire, and don’t take a knife to a gun fight. The gunman at our school was using a semi-automatic pistol. He shot and killed a teacher, then he shot the vice-principal, who lived. He then forced entry into a classroom, this is where my experience in the field becomes useful information.

I’ve personally had semi-automatic weapons malfunction as his did. The ratio I’m able to produce through weapons malfunctions in field use is somewhere around ten-to-one. That meaning for every misfire or jam with all other weapons combined, pump, single action, bolt action or revolver, I have experienced ten functioning issues with semi-automatic guns. I took it upon myself to do a little bit of research, and was surprised at how often malfunctioning semi-automatics prevented additional lives lost. The weapons’ malfunction had by the shooter at our school allowed the teacher and several students to disarm and restrain the assailant. New York State has proposed some of the strictest weapons regulations to date following recent shootings. For the informed, this is confusing considering the 250-plus homicides in 2012 in New York State, only seven were committed using long guns. They didn’t distinguish between shotgun, single shot, pump or semi-auto, rifles; single shot, pump, lever action, bolt action or semi-automatic, so the likelihood of semi-automatic used would most likely be further reduced.