Since the latest mass shooting, the internet, the media, and the American people for once agree on something: we got to talk about guns. Of course, that's where the agreement ends. Some say we need more guns, some say we need no guns, some say "some people say..."
Anyway, let's look at the grammatically incorrect Second Amendment, which is the root of the debate, though not necessarily the problem:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
If the part after "A well regulated militia...free state" were omitted, there'd be no question. But then again, why would the Founding Fathers have even put it there if it were to have been relevant? Who is this militia? If it is a state's national guard, does that mean those not enlisted cannot own guns? What about assault weapons? The only analogue to the assault rifle these recent killers used would be a cannon. How many Americans pre and in the immediate post revolution personally owned cannons in their house? We could go on and on.
Here's an easy, simple solution. Bring about a new constitutional amendment that says:
"All citizens of age of majority, good moral character, and sound mind have the right to bear wieldy firearms."
This rewording
1. I think "wieldy" is a strong way of getting rid of these "semi" automatic military weapons. No one aside from military and police need these weapons of war that obviously aren't meant for hunting, are not going to be easily held and drawn when the mugger attacks you at night, or avoid shooting thru your windows/wall into the neighbors' yards when a home intruder is abound.
2. Clears up the militia bit. As much as it would've been nice for guns to not have been so accepted in colonial America, there are too many handguns out there, and the vast majority of Americans who own them use them responsibly and safely. The reality is that a lot more Americans own guns than we'd like.
3. "Good moral character" as in no felony convictions. Since it would be in the Constitution, it would thus apply to federal crimes and felonies, not misdemeanors. States could regulate this though, ideally.
4. "Sound mind"-indeed keep the crazies away from guns.
5. "Age of majority"-I once went to a gun range just to see what this culture was about, and to try to grasp what people find so exciting and awesome about guns. One thing I saw horrified me; a father taking his 15 year old kid shooting, and paying for him to use the assault rifle for $50 instead of the handgun for $0.50 a bullet. Its one thing to be exposed to "guns" in Grand Theft Auto. I think all who meet the "sound mind" part can differentiate. Holding and using something that could actually be used to end lives (including one's own) is another ballgame.
There you have it. Its not that hard.