You have probably heard of “Gun Control” in politics before. I prefer the term “Gun Politics,” as it is a bit more neutral. Gun Politics is a wide discussion about topics from gun violence, law enforcement, and laws at both state and Federal level. It is an extremely divisive issue in America (it has been for some time), and it is something that all voters should consider when they head to the polls this November.

Americans, myself included, have never been more dissatisfied with our Federal Government. Or, in the case of this election, with our choices for who will be our next President. On one side we have someone who is “pro-gun” but scares & offends many Americans. On the other side, we have someone who is vehemently “anti-gun” but is unrelatable & corrupt in the eyes of many Americans. It seems there is no good choice in this election.

There is supposed to be a middle ground between these two candidates, but unfortunately we may not get that. Americans have a hard time talking about how to solve issues with firearms in America because they’re the only individually owned things guaranteed in The Bill of Rights. Everyone wants to keep bad guys from getting firearms, but the real question is how do we do that while respecting law-abiding citizens rights to own firearms?

Real Quick History:

The Federal Government has mostly stayed out of regulating firearms, leaving it mostly to the states to decide. The big pieces of Federal legislation on firearms are rather recent, happening in the past few decades. The big pieces to the puzzle are the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA), the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), and the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady). These three Federal Acts created most of our modern Federal laws concerning firearms, in particular what types of firearms Americans can own, how they are sold and manufactured, and the creation of our modern background check systems.

The Breadth of the Issues:

Guns are a big deal in America, and are frequently in our news. Firearms are a constant issue and threat for both local law enforcement and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies on a daily basis. There are a lot of laws at both local/state and Federal levels, so many that even sometimes the Federal government cannot keep track of how to enforce them. In this example, how background checks work between two Federal Agencies, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) shows us just how difficult it can be to enforce laws already on the books; the two agencies are in disagreement over who should and should not have firearms.

The 2nd Amendment is pretty specific, as far as the Bill of Rights goes, and regards an individual’s right to keep and bear Arms. The question is always how much of an individual right it is. Every day individuals use firearms for both good reasons and bad reasons. In Philadelphia one man saved the lives of two police officers using his firearm. On the other hand, you may have heard that Kim Kardashian was robbed at gun-point recently in Paris, France. Although it happened in France, acts of violence do tarnish the issue. Firearms are ultimately tools that can be used for good or bad – it’s hard to come to grips with how America wants to regulate them.

One political organization, the National Rifle Association, or NRA, has a long history of dealing with firearm laws in America. In the interests of objectivity I will state that I am a Life Member of the NRA, and have supported the organization most of my life. Although they have a lot of programs, from education and training to event and grassroots organization, they are a political lobby with a lot of power, representing millions of firearm owners in America. Whether it is helping campaign against legislation in California or running an attack ad against Hillary Clinton for the election, they are a mega-force in Gun Politics.

What’s Going on With This Election Season:

In the interests of realism, although the third-parties are important to all Americans we’re going to see more Republicans or Democrats elected this season. So it is important to know where each party stands on Gun Politics, and where each of their candidate’s stands.

The Republican platform highlights that the 2nd Amendment is individual, and that lawful gun ownership is a “God-given right of selfdefense” in America. Republicans fear a “liberal majority” on the Supreme Court, important because of landmark Supreme Court decisions about the 2nd Amendment, such as the 2008 Decision, District of Columbia v. Heller. The Republican party is pushing for firearm reciprocity legislation in all 50 states, meaning if one has a license in their home state to carry a weapon they would be able to carry it in all 50 states, similar to a driver’s license. Finally, the party opposes new restrictions, in favor of enforcing current laws rather than creating new laws.

Republican Nominee Donald J. Trump’s positions on firearms in America largely mirrors his party’s platform. Trump is mostly focused on fixing mental health care in America as a way to curb gun violence in America. In typical Trump fashion, “law enforcement does a tremendous job, but they can’t be everywhere all of the time.” He believes that Americans have a right to protect themselves, and they need firearms to do that.

On the Democratic side, there is a focus on creating new restrictions. The Democratic party platform wants to create more laws for background checks, revoke immunity from gun manufacturers so that they could be sued, and place new restrictions on civilian ownership.

Democratic Nominee Hillary Clinton, like Trump, mirrors her party’s platform. Hillary’s website is tough on guns. Both the Democratic party and Hillary Clinton make mention repeatedly of “loopholes” regarding online sales and gun shows. They also make mention of “33,000 gun deaths” every year. Both of these statements can be misleading.

There are two scenarios for buying a firearm at both gun shows and online sales. If you buy a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealer at a gun show or online, you will be subject to the same background check as everyone else. If you buy a gun from an individual at a gun show who is a private citizen, in many states you are not required to have a background check. That does not mean you do not have to have a background check, as gun shows require them regardless of the law. The only time background checks are not performed for online sales is during private sales on websites like GunBroker, which facilitates both FFL sales (background checks required) and private sales (which are protected by Federal Law).

The 33,000 gun deaths a year is a misleading statement. Only about 11,000 of those 33,000 are from homicides, the rest are from accidents or suicides. While both parties agree that all of these numbers are too high, accidents account for only 500 or so deaths per year, and 21,000 of the 33,000 gun deaths per year are from suicide. Luckily both candidates are serious about tackling mental health treatment, or lack there of, in America. We shall see.

Why It Matters this November and in America:

Whoever is the next President of the United States will have a Supreme Court Justice nomination or two. The Republican fears of a “liberal majority” are real, but as we have all witnessed with Congress, a “majority” does not solve party deadlock on important issues. Congress has had a Republican majority for years, and has even recently blocked President Obama’s Supreme Court nominations. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Either way, many Americans, especially those who are college aged, feel that America loses no matter who we choose. If Trump’s vision for America scares you (as it probably should) it may be time to consider what role firearms will play in your life. If Hillary’s vehement anti-gun stance and ideas for expanding regulations feels like tyranny, it may be time to prepare for the worst. Keep in mind the 2nd Amendment was designed immediately after Americans had fought a brutal war against an unjust, huge, and hostile government.

You certainly do not have to like guns, own guns, or want guns – but do consider that guns give individuals a lot of power in America. Americans are well armed and own a lot of guns. Myself, I am the radical, anti-government extremist your mothers warned you about – but that does not mean my words should go ignored. Guns matter, and so does your vote.