The second amendment of the Constitution of the United States is in trouble. Although it is often cited as an obvious answer to the constitutional-protection question, it is often referred to simply as the "right to bear arms." However, the full text reads, "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;" therefore, the general populace must increase its awareness that this is clearly an individual right and stop arguing for gun control laws. Moreover, despite the arguments that gun control activists frequently cite as reasons to limit this constitutional right, American citizens must begin to inform themselves and realize that clear and convincing evidence concludes that gun control is not effective in reducing or deterring gun-related crimes.
Although the comment, "guns don't kill people, people kill people," has become so trite that it has become the topic of countless bumper stickers and other various memorabilia, the quotation remains a strong sentiment of the reasoning behind anti-gun control activists work. The comment is unarguable and research is not necessary to substantiate it; a gun is an inanimate object and has no autonomous power to harm or kill anyone. Therefore, it is imperative that the true issue, education, remains paramount.
The other unarguable tenet behind this issue is the fact that if law-abiding citizens are denied their constitutional right to own and carry guns, then only the criminals will have guns. There are over 200 million registered guns in circulation (Economist 16). However, these will not be used for killing, since murders, rapists, and thieves own unregistered guns. The situation is similar in Canada. Robert J. Mundt, of the University of North Carolina, asserts, "Crime in America is popularly perceived [in Canada] as something to be expected in a society which has less respect for the rule of law than does Canadian society.