In last week’s Civics 101 column, I looked back at the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and what scholars say that really means. I shared information about gun laws in various states, and all of this came up because of the ongoing violence, not only in our city but across America. So much of the violence is caused by people with illegal guns, or some with guns they bought legally. But should not have been allowed to obtain.
Since last week, when 19 children and (2) teachers were murdered at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, there have been another (20) mass shootings around the country, with at least (4) people being killed in each of these reported mass shootings.
President Biden is outraged. He held a nationally televised address on June 2nd to share with the American people what he thinks needs to happen post-haste to address some of this carnage. Here’s a portion of what the President said during his address:
“Today, we’re taking steps to confront not just the gun crisis, but what is actually a public health crisis. Nothing — nothing I’m about to recommend in any way impinges on the Second Amendment. There are phony arguments suggesting that these are Second Amendment rights at stake from what we’re talking about. But no amendment — no amendment to the Constitution is absolute. You can’t yell “fire” in a crowded movie theater and call it freedom of speech. From the very beginning, you couldn’t own any weapon you wanted to own. From the very beginning that the Second Amendment existed, certain people weren’t allowed to have weapons. So the idea is just bizarre to suggest that some of the things we’re recommending are contrary to the Constitution.
Gun violence in this country is an epidemic. Let me say it again. Gun violence in this country is an epidemic, and it’s an international embarrassment.
You know, we saw that again. Last night, as I was coming to the Oval Office, I got the word that, in South Carolina, a physician with his wife, two grandchildren, and a person working at his house was gunned down — all five. So many people — so many of the people sitting here today know that well. Unfortunately, you know they know what it’s like when the seconds change your life forever.
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