- Joined
- Jul 10, 2015
- Messages
- 9,987
- Points
- 113
There are well over a quarter of a billion guns in America owned by private citizens.
It is said that 3% of Americans own 1/2 the guns but also over 1/3 of all Citizens own guns, some polls say it's really more like half of all Americans own guns.
In order to change a Constitutional amendment it takes 2/3 of both the house and senate and then must be ratified by 3/4 of all 50 States.
Here's some education for you:
Amending the Constitution is a necessarily and intentionally difficult thing to do. It's been attempted hundreds of times to address controversial issues from gay marriage to abortion rights to balancing the federal budget. And Congress has been successful only 27 times since the Constitution was signed in September 1787.
The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights because their aim is to protect certain freedoms granted to American citizens and to limit the power of the federal government.
The remaining 17 amendments address a variety of topics including voting rights, slavery and the sale of alcohol.
The first 10 amendments were ratified in December 1791. The most recent amendment, which prohibits Congress from giving itself a pay raise, was ratified in May 1992.
So how is the Constitution amended?
Article 5 of the Constitution outlines the process for amending the document. There are two steps: proposal and ratification.
Step 1: Proposing An Amendment
Either Congress or the states can propose an amendment to the Constitution.
Both houses of Congress must propose the amendment with a two-thirds vote. This is how all current amendments have been offered.
Two-thirds of the state legislatures must call on Congress to hold a constitutional convention.
Step 2. Ratifying An Amendment
Regardless of how the amendment is proposed, it must be ratified by the States.
Three-fourths of the state legislatures must approve of the amendment proposed by Congress, or
Three-fourths of the states must approve the amendment via ratifying conventions. This method has only been used once, to repeal Prohibition with the 21st Amendment.
Is there a timeline for ratification? The U.S. Supreme Court has held that ratification must happen within "some reasonable time after the proposal." Since the 18th Amendment was ratified, Congress has set a term of seven years for ratification.
Only 33 amendments have received a two-thirds vote from both Houses of Congress. Of those, only 27 have been ratified by the States. Perhaps the most visible failure is the Equal Rights Amendment.
Article 5 of the Constitution reads:
"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate."
About the 27 Amendments
Here are summaries of all the constitutional amendments:
The 1st Amendment guarantees Americans freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble and freedom to petition the government.
The 2nd amendment guarantees Americans the individual right to keep and bear arms. (Note) The Supreme court upheld the 2nd Amendment is an individual right enjoyed by private Citizens.
The 3rd Amendment prohibits the government from forcing citizens to house U.S. soldiers in peace time.
The 4th Amendment protects citizens against unwarranted police searches and seizures.
The 5th amendment grants certain rights to Americans who are accused of crimes.
The 6th Amendment establishes the rights of citizens who face trials and juries.
The 7th amendment guarantees the right to a trial by jury in federal civil court cases.
The 8th Amendment protects Americans against "cruel and unusual" criminal punishment.
The 9th Amendment states rights not specifically delineated in the Constitution should still be respected.
The 10th Amendment grants powers to the states and people when those powers are not allocated to the federal government.
The 11th amendment sets jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
The 12th amendment defines how the Electoral College chooses the President and Vice President
The 13th Amendment abolishes slavery.
The 14th amendment grants citizenship to African Americans and those born in the United States. It grants citizens equal protection under the law at both the state and federal levels.
The 15th Amendment bans the use of race as a qualification to vote.
The 16th Amendment allows the government to collect income taxes.
The 17th Amendment states U.S. senators are to be elected and not appointed by state legislatures.
The 18th Amendment, which has been repealed, prohibited the sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in what became known as Prohibition.
The 19th Amendment prohibited the use of gender as a qualification to vote.
The 20th amendment states when Congress is in session.
The 21st amendment repealed Prohibition.
The 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two four-year terms.
The 23rd amendment gives Washington, D.C., electors in the Electoral College.
The 24th Amendment bans "poll taxes."
The 25th Amendment delineates the line of succession for president.
The 26th Amendment allows 18-year-old citizens the right to vote.
The 27th Amendment states members of Congress cannot raise their own salaries.
In short changing the 2nd Amendment is not going to happen.
Last edited:
