Op-Ed: Why former slave states became the foundation for American gun culture
The question that often comes up when talking about the Second Amendment is why all the states in the country joined the National Firearms Act of 1934. The answer is simple, but still fascinating to ponder.
The law, commonly called the “right to bear arms,” is enshrined in their Constitution and has been for nearly 100 years. But few people realize just how important the right to bear arms truly is.
According to Forbes, the Second Amendment allows for the people to bear arms for hunting, for personal protection and for sport. There are many reasons why the Second Amendment is so important to the people, but primarily, the Second Amendment allows for citizens to “bear arms for self-defense.”
The Founding Fathers understood that most people would need to arm themselves when the government was out of control and they were fearful of the tyranny and anarchy. They knew that if the government fell, that people would be in need of weapons.
Many former slave states passed the laws that allowed citizens to own guns when the country was in a time of crisis. The number of states with these weapons is countless, and many people believe they are the reason the Constitution was ratified because they were a part of the American Revolution.
As gun rights became more of a political issue in the early years of the 20th century, it would not be surprising to see that the Founding Fathers would have approved of gun rights. In fact, George Washington was one of the first people to openly support the Second Amendment and stated, “As is natural, we of the Old Dominion feel our security and the security of our families, more particularly as it respects the right of keeping and bearing arms.”
After the Civil War, things began to change for citizens in the former slave states. Many were still living in fear of the government and were very protective of their rights and privileges. This, combined