2nd ammendment issues

            In past years the 2nd amendment has caused a large amount of controversy. The 2nd amendment states that Americans have the right to keep and bear arms and that this right shall not be infringed. With the rising violence in today's society, gun control advocates have begun trying to twist the meaning of the 2nd amendment into different interpretations in order to try to control guns. On the other side, gun rights advocates see this as an attack on freedom and defend their interpretation of the 2nd amendment fiercely. Most of the debate is centered around how the amendment is phrased. .
             These interpretations tend to lean in one of two ways. Gun rights groups say such legislation would infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. They say stricter background checks at gun shows would slow weapon sales, as the waiting period would outlast the gun show itself. Some gun manufacturers have volunteered support for safety locks, but the National Rifle Association has criticized the measure as another attack on gun owners. The NRA, a prominent voice in the gun debate, says firearm control measures wouldn't be needed if lawmakers would enforce current law.
             Gun Control Advocates, including Handgun Control, support even stricter provisions. Among other things, proponents of stricter firearm laws are calling for mandatory child safety locks, tougher background checks, and other controls that they believe will curb the rise of gun-related violence. Such proposals come just months after a host of cities including New Orleans, Miami, and Los Angeles filed suit against firearm manufacturers, blaming the companies" marketing practices for violence caused by guns. They are calling for a limit of one handgun purchase per month. This move was brought on by the Clinton administration. Such groups also advocate raising the legal age limit for ownership of guns to age 21 from the current age of 18.