S. constitution.
On December 15 1791, Virginia ratified the Bill of Rights making it, with the second amendment, part of the constitution. According to the Bill of rights, "The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution 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" (Carey). When the U.S. Constitution was first written in 1787, some delegates thought Militia was military forces because the Federal Government had its own army to protect the people. The second amendment was made in response to the fear of being helpless before a standing professional army. .
The Founding Fathers included the second amendment in the Bill of Rights because they feared the Government might tyrannize the people. Unless, the people had the right to defend themselves as a country. The Founding Fathers thought that the country would benefit from guns possessed by citizens enabling them to defend themselves at all times. This notion is defended by a quote by Thomas Jefferson in a letter he wrote to Major John Cartwright. He wrote: .
"We established, however some, although not all its important principles. The constitutions of most of our states assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent; (as in electing their functionaries executive and legislative, and deciding by a jury of themselves, in all judiciary cases in which any fact is involved), or may they act by representatives, freely and equally chosen that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed," (Jefferson).
The government has passed many laws regarding gun purchases and firearm use. The law today goes as followed:.
"Any firearm used in a violent crime is punishable by law. Any minor crime committed with a gun is automatically pumped up to a felony.