"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Having lived and traveled overseas, I have observed that limiting gun rights only impacts the honest, law-abiding citizens. In my experience, the criminals seem to be able to acquire weapons despite laws prohibiting ownership.

I can recall vividly a trip to a South American country where I was traveling with a coworker. We were heading to a large city after visiting a manufacturing plant during the day. It was after dark when we arrived. As we approached a stop light, my coworker slowed down to look for oncoming traffic. There was none, so he proceeded through the intersection without stopping at the light. Surprised, I asked why he did not obey the signal. He told me that it was common for criminals to rob individuals and steal their cars at gun point. He then told me that the government allowed very limited gun rights to the citizens and that it was very difficult for an average person to get a permit to own a gun. However, this obviously did not curtail criminal activities.

While living overseas in a country with very limited gun rights, I read in the paper numerous times of violent crimes committed with guns. I can recall one particularly disturbing story where a farmer was shot and killed while tending to his crops by criminals who later raped the woman of the house. I remember how upset and scared that story made me at the time. I could not help but to wonder if the criminals would have been so bold if they thought a woman with a shotgun were waiting for them on the inside of that home.

Our founding fathers lived through the oppression of the English where they were subjected to unlawful searches and seizures. As such, they established a foundation through the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to ensure that the citizens of the United States could protect and defend their property and the newly established republic from both foreign & especially domestic threats. The Second Amendment is as important today as the day it was written. We must, and I will, resist the erosion of this right provided to all law-abiding citizens.

"Rebellion against tyranny is obedience to God." ~Ben Franklin