Gun control conversations in the US are always hindered by the Second Amendment that the first independent America Congress mad to the constitution. Those who support ownership of guns argue that the first American government wanted the US citizens to have the right to bearing arms. But why did the founding fathers amend the constitution? In 1791 America was young having won the revolutionary war by defeating the British army.
No police force was in place, and thus Native Americans would crush now and then. Because of the war colonists had with the British Army, guns were a huge part of everyday life. They would use the guns for hunting to get food and eventually formed a militia that helped keep peace in the newly found country. Weapons that existed back then are not comparable in anyway with modern ones.
Below is a discussion on why buying and carrying a gun in 1791 is justified and today is not.
- In 1791 there was no Standing Army
America started out in 1791, and the whole country’s population would not even match a single state’s people today. Revolutionary war had just ended and threats of danger were looming. Native Americans and settlers would attack each other much often. Lack of real police force to contain the attacks meant citizens had to take laws into their hands.
Times have changed. The police force is in place today. In case of an attack dial 911 and in no time, police security is at your doorstep. We do not want such rights to own guns as it used to be newly found America. Today, the federal government has invested a lot in external defense and states have got us covered internally.
- Muskets and AR-15s Do Not Match Up
The weapons used in revolutionary war were very feeble. They had a one round magazine capacity and could only fire three effective rounds a minute in the hands of the most skilled shooter. Accuracy range was 50 meters.
Today’s weapons are much more sophisticated. Take a simple AR-15 which can have 30 rounds magazine capacity and can fire estimated 45 rounds a minute. Accuracy range is almost 550 meters. This shows that allowing guns in today’s modern America is 100% dangerous compared to 1791!
- 1791 Guns Shot Were “Slow”
Revolution firearms would be loaded one round at a time. Fired shots per minute were three or four because the process of loading and reloading a gun involved the following;
- Adding gunpowder
- Using ramrod to insert a bullet, and making sure it is well placed and,
- Reattaching the ramrod before aiming to fire a single bullet
The process of using a gun today is not complicated. Conflict arises and within no time, ten or more people have lost lives. It is not safe to have citizens own guns without proper regulations.
- Musket Balls Could Not Fight Gravity
The lead was in short supply during the revolutionary war; some musket balls were thus made using a combination of lead and tin or lead and pewter. The balls were heavy, and they could not resist gravity. They affected accuracy even at a close range since they were pulled down shortly after being fired.
Lead supply is sufficient today. Accuracy is guaranteed since the bullets have been devised to resist gravity. A shot taken even by the most unskilled shooter may miss the target by very few millimeters.
Guns in 1791 were much safer even when in the hands of citizens. They were less harmless and mostly used for hunting. Modern-day firearms are much sophisticated, and their hurting capacity is bigger compared to Muskets. People back then were not violent. Let us take a closer in modern America and make it better by restricting buying and carrying of the dangerous weapons.