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National & World Issue

Should the federal government implement a mandatory #GunBuyBack program for assault weapons?

Score for this "No" opinion :
Score is TBD

"Mandating gun buy back violates 2nd amendment" Aug 19, 2024

The right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right of every American sanctioned by the US Constitution under the 2nd amendment, which states that "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." However, the debate regarding this right has become heated due to tragedies involving assault weapons. 

People who believe that these crimes happen due to the presence of assault weapons in society rely on giving an unconstitutional solution to the problem. They suggest that a mandatory gun buyback program should be introduced to collect all assault weapons back from the people. However, any step to announce a mandatory gun buyback program is a clear violation of the 2nd amendment of the United States constitution.

Although the 2nd amendment clearly states the right to bear arms, the 4th and 5th constitutional amendments also weaken the case for any gun #buyback program. The 4th amendment provides citizens with the right "to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures." Hence, the right to possess weapons given by the constitution renders this program ineffective.

Many politicians have also criticized the existence of any such program on constitutional grounds. People on the left, like Bernie Sanders, refer to this program as confiscation by the government and suggests that this goes against the constitution. Similarly, people on the right have also called it unconstitutional and unnecessary intrusion by the government into the private lives of the citizens. Both of these approaches state that programs will allow the government to have unnecessary intrusion in the lives of the people.

Upholding the constitution is a cornerstone of America. It is what has allowed the nation to survive. Any effort by the government to deny any fundamental right given by the constitution should be discouraged. If somehow, the government successfully introduces any such program, it would pave the way for them to deny other fundamental rights of the people in the future.

A guy buy back program will also increase the financial burden on the government. According to some estimates, the program could cost from 15 billion dollars to as much as 100 billion dollars depending upon the type and number of weapons being bought by the government. And where would this money come from? Us. The Taxpayers.

With the fraught political environment of the U.S. and civil unrest, the government is finding it difficult to maneuver between the people's right to protest and protection of the private property of citizens. All these political and legal scenarios make the gun buyback program expensive and unconstitutional. Hence, any scheme which makes the gun buyback mandatory is unconstitutional and should be discouraged in order to uphold the dignity of the United States #constitution.

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