I am a full supporter of the 2nd Amendment, and believe we have laws already on the books that keep criminals from accessing guns legally. However, we all know criminals do not acquire weapons through the legal route. By continually legislating gun ownership, it only restricts law abiding citizens from lawful ownership. The fundamental reasoning our Forefathers incorporated the "Right to Keep and Bear Arms" goes beyond hunting or self defense. It is found in the 4th Article of the Bill of Rights, and simply put, it is for the security of a free state. To keep a government from taking advantage of its people, and was therefore added to our Constitution as the Second Amendment. However, these days we tend to equate the ownership of guns to self defense.

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source: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits /charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html