The N.C. General Assembly has taken a small step in the right direction in reducing the infringement upon an individual’s right to bear arms. But many liberal leaning legislators, newspapers, and individuals appear to have forgotten about Amendment 2, Right to Bear Arms, of the United States Constitution which states: “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.”

What is it about “… shall not be infringed” that these legislators, newspapers, and individuals do not understand? The mere fact that there is a background check required for the ownership of a firearm is an infringement on a United States citizen’s rights.

I spent over 20 years of my life in the military where I swore to an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States. During those twenty years I was trained on and qualified with firearms from a small caliber pistol to a .50 caliber machine gun. What I learned from all those qualifications and the training that went with them is that firearms by themselves do no harm to people. It is people using firearms that do harm others.

If our legislators, our newspapers, and all individuals really want to have an impact on the use of firearms by the criminal element, it is time to support strengthening the laws and punishment for those who use firearms during criminal activities. It is time that our legislators and our newspapers supported the rights of law abiding citizens rather than supporting punishment of law abiding citizens. When one citizen’s rights have been infringed upon all citizens rights are in effect being infringed upon!!!

If our legislators and our newspapers wish to support the rights of the citizens of the United States, then it would support the elimination of all infringements on the citizen’s right to keep and bear arms. But rather than support the citizens’ rights our legislators and our newspapers has chosen to support the continued infringement upon the rights of our citizens.

Ray Shamlin

Rocky Mount