With all the talk recently of greater restrictions on gun ownership and even repeal of the Second Amendment, a point must be made that is not made often enough. It is that our rights as citizens provide a far greater defense against injustice for minorities than the majority. The majority by definition hold the reins of power. They vote their people into office, they get their bills and regulations passed. They control the government at every level, for the most part. The majority therefore has no real use of a Bill of Rights. But while those rights exist for the benefit of all, minorities, either in skin color, language, political opinion, or what have you, are the primary beneficiaries of inalienable rights. They are effectively a shield against the tyranny of the majority, be the First, Second, Fourth, or the rest. A majority of people who hold the same opinion of government have no need of First Amendment protections, only the minority viewpoints and ideas require such protection. Which is why I find a dissonance among those who ostensibly champion the causes of minorities in this country. Because they are the very people clamoring most loudly for a repeal of the right to gun ownership, deriding “gun culture”, and waging a veritable war against one of the rights most crucial for the protection of the most vulnerable minorities in this country. Minorities, whether sexual, racial, ideological, face disproportionate ostracism and violence on the part of the majority. They therefore must have their right of self-defense held inviolable against the continuous attacks on it. Minorities of all stripes must, therefore, be on guard against those who profess to speak for them.
