RUNNING HEADER: PROPOSAL FOR MANDATORY FIREARMS EDUCATION 1

PROPOSAL FOR MANDATORY FIREARM EDUCATION

AMBER L. SMITH
BUS-PS 200A
M. NELS JOHNSON
WARNER PACIFIC COLLEGE
JANRUARY 26, 2013

PROPOSAL FOR MANDATORY FIREARMS EDUCATION 2
Abstract
In this proposal I will explain my ideals regarding mandatory firearm and explosive educational
training. I will cover the proposal that I want to become law; the process and players involved in
taking the proposal to Congress for consideration. I will also talk a little about the ways I would
promote my proposal, and from whom I would seek support.
Keywords: Firearms, weapon, ATF, NRA, gun, regulations, gun laws, gun rights,
unconstitutional, etc.

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PROPOSAL FOR MANDATORY FIREARM AND EXPLOSIVES EDUCATION
This proposal is written with the intent to ensure the civil liberties and protect the
Constitutional right to bear arms. It is so proposed, so that we do not take away the right to
protect ourselves by way of firearm. In fact, I do believe that every man and woman should have
at least one in their household. It is imperative that we are not only permitted to protect
ourselves, but we should be encouraged with the utmost respect of the right.
After careful consideration of the current pros and cons relative to gun laws, and given
the state of society and illegal gun use, I realized that we need the second Amendment. We as
Americans need the security of knowing they are given the opportunity to defend themselves
against anyone who intends physical harm to them or their family. When danger is imminent it is
our right to have the resources to ensure our safety and survival. In this great nation of freedom
and ideals we have forgotten that our nation is one that believes in just war. It has been our
international form of community service to occupy foreign countries, civilly intended, to
promote democracy and peace, with force and military presence. It is inevitable that at some
point in our future, some foreign entity might try to promote their beliefs upon us in our
homeland, with force and possibly much worse. Keeping this in mind I concur with my original
view that citizens should own personal protection firearms.
I am aware of the great responsibility of public firearm safety. It is easily arguable by
any anti-gun supporter can argue a million reasons why we should ban public ownership of
firearms or at least red tape the right to death leaving it redundantly limited and infringed upon.
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Owning firearms is a right that the government should support the use of. It is how to support
that right that gets tricky. I believe with the right regulations and proper education and training
owning a firearm would be safe and effective in the hands of the public.
I propose that it be mandatory for any American citizen under the true definition thereof,
to be required to pass a training course in the safety and responsibility of owning and operating a
firearm. Citizens should be trained in how to use the weapon, as well as the effects and dangers.
The citizen should be prepared for any imminent danger that may or may not present itself. In a
time of national security and possibly terrorist attacks it would be very beneficial if the American
citizen was not a helpless lamb, but a productive member of society that is educated and trained
to aid in national defense on his or her own accord, while adhering to a specific set of rules to
govern said circumstance.
There are many questions that need to be asked when considering something like this.
What about the obvious chance of misuse, rebellion? Even anarchy would be a plausible threat.
It would be naive to dismiss the possibility of a worst case scenario. Worst case scenario would
be chaos, anarchy, disregard for the law all together. I have faith in the patriotism of the
American people. With the right educational program, we could teach every citizen, upon a
decided age limit like 18 or 21, and effective training in the use of firearms for protection could
strengthen the American people as individuals and as a unit. It would change things dramatically
if everyone had a weapon. Would people still rob one another if everyone had a firearm? Would
people be quicker to kill if they had weapons? Let us not forget the mass shooting incidents that
are happening all over the country. Just think of what would change if the fear of firearms was
turned into inherent knowledge and respect for the machine and its functionality. We need to
teach our children that guns are only dangerous when they are misused and not a threat if treated
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as a delicate responsibility. It is the responsibility of this nation to educate its people for the
unity and benefit of the community, when it is the greatest concern of our government to ensure
these rights, will we be a more secure and safe nation. It is my hope that these concepts and
principles will be considered helpful to the development of a plan to preserve the right to bear
arms while also preserving the right of personal safety from violent offenders. We want to unify
and empower the American citizens. To create a nation of people who will set aside conflict and
pride to unite against a common enemy and protect each other from harm. When it is understood
by the people and the government that the use of force is only to be used in imminent danger and
not for malice or intimidation, can we stand up as a united nation founded by principles and
strong moral values and a responsibility to preserve these standards for future generations.
I must first present this Idea to the right audience. It is a proposal of peace and
compromise, while keeping in mind what right cannot be infringed upon. This can be beneficial
to the attempt for support. I should take this idea on a path to connect with a state Senator. It
would be in the best interest of the proposal to seek out a senator who is pro-second amendment
and maybe even an NRA member. I would seek out the support of the NRA and other agencies
and associations that support the second amendment. I would also speak to women and people
who may not always feel safe but think they are powerless. We have laws created to serve and
aid the people of this country, what a terrible deed to not use these laws for our safety and
protection, to exercise these laws in the very system that makes this country a free nation of the
people, for the people.
If my proposal reached the target audience and received sponsorship from a state senator,
it then moves on to one part of the House. If it gets introduced to the House of Representatives,
or the senate, then it will be assigned to the appropriate committee. There are several similar
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committees across the House. The House of Representatives may assign the proposal to the
Education and Workforce committee, or maybe the Government Reform committee. If it were to
be introduced by the senate then it may be assigned to the Governmental Affairs or the Rules and
Administration committee. It is here where the committee will decide when and how the
proposal will be discussed. This is a crucial point; here the proposal can die all together. If the
proposal never got past this committee it will have died in the first stages of the process.
In order for a bill to reach the floor, it must be given a place on the agenda. In the House
of Representatives such placement on the agenda represents another potentially significant
roadblock for legislation. The Rules Committee in the House constitutes a major hurdle to the
passage of any piece of legislation. This Committee, therefore, is an extremely important one,
and is usually made up of the more senior members of each party. After a bill is reported out by
a committee and receives a place on the agenda, it is ready to be discussed by the full chamber.
In the House, bills may be discussed either under an open rule or under a closed rule. If it is
discussed under an open rule, it may be amended by any member of the House.
If the proposal is passed by one chamber, the House of Representatives, then it must now
be sent through the other chamber, the senate. Bills are also assigned to appropriate committees.
If they are reported favorably by the subcommittees and committees to whom they are assigned,
then they are discussed by the full Senate. Remember, in the Senate a bill is automatically
assigned for floor discussion once it has been reported out by the full committee. It does not have
to go through a Rules Committee process as a bill does in the House.
If the bill is passed by both chambers, it must then move on to a conference committee.
Here the bill will be re-written to establish a permanent language. When this committee is done
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revising the bill, the Conference Committee then releases a conference report. This report is sent
to both chambers of Congress and represents the final version of the bill. If the conference report
is accepted by a majority vote in the house and a majority vote in the senate, the bill, in its final
form, is then sent to the President.
The President may approve it, veto it, or do nothing. If Congress is in session, the
President has the choice of either signing the bill, in which case it is approved; vetoing it, in
which case it is not approved; or not signing it, in which case it is approved by default. If
Congress is not in session, the process is somewhat different. In this case the President may sign
the bill, in which case it is approved; or the President may veto the bill, in which case the bill is
not approved. However, if the President takes no action at all on the bill, the bill is defeated by
default. This latter process is called a pocket veto and is operative only when Congress is not in
session. (Triebwasser)
If in fact the bill is passed by both chambers of Congress and the president, it is then law
and will be given a number beginning with the letters PL or Public Law. The bill now has to go
through the process of being put into effect. This means that it needs to be supported by two
types of legislation called an Authorization bill and an Appropriations bill. The Authorization
bill says who will be responsible for putting the bill into motion. The Appropriations bill is to
authorize the spending of Federal funds to pay for the expenses related to the bill. Failure of the
Appropriations Committees to act favorably can in effect kill any bill that has been passed by the
appropriate substantive committee, even if this authorization bill has been approved by the full
Congress as well as by the President.
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In conclusion, the process of gaining fruition from my initial proposal is long and hard.
We live in a great country with great rules. It is a country of law and order, and we must use that
law and respect the order. The greatest idea is still subject to due process. As much as we might
want to curse that process, it is that process that allows us to live freely in this great nation.



















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Bibliography
James Q Wilson. (2012,2009,2008). American Government. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Triebwasser, . M. (n.d.). American Politics. Retrieved 2013, from
http://www.polisci.ccsu.edu/trieb/Cong-2.html#Lawmaking