Resolution on the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Exposed

The Resolution on the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is listed under ALEC's Public Safety and Elections Task Force and was included in the 1995 ALEC Sourcebook of American State Legislation. ALEC has attempted to distance itself from this piece of legislation after the launch of ALECexposed.org in 2011, but it has done nothing to get it repealed in the states where it previously pushed for it to be made into law.

ALEC Bill Text

WHEREAS 1989 was the Bicentennial of the adoption by Congress of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States; and

WHEREAS the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees each law-abiding American citizen the right to keep and bear arms of his choice; and

WHEREAS it is estimated that more than 70 million individuals, representing more than half of the households in America, have chosen to exercise that right; and

WHEREAS more than 99.8 percent of all lawfully-owned firearms in America will not be used in crime in any given year; and

WHEREAS firearms are used for the defense of person, family, and property more than one million times each year; and

WHEREAS the criminal misuse of firearms by those in the criminal element is not a reason to deny the constitutional right to keep and bear arms by law-abiding citizens; and

WHEREAS several local, state, and federal lawmakers continue to propose measures aimed at restricting firearms including bans, taxation, waiting periods, registration, licensing, and even confiscation; and

WHEREAS such laws assume the guilt of all firearms owners without addressing those who misuse and criminally abuse firearms, contrary to our legal justice system which assumes innocence until proven guilty; and

WHEREAS National Institute of Justice studies have shown that restrictive "gun control" laws are ineffective against violent criminals who show contempt for all laws; and

WHEREAS the effect of restrictive gun laws has been the exact opposite of that which was promised, as evidenced by the scandalously high violent crime rates in New York City and Washington, D.C., among others;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the American Legislative Exchange Council recommends the rejection of further restrictive firearms laws that only serve to limit lawabiding citizens in the exercise of their Constitutionally guaranteed rights while having no effect on the activities of the criminal element in our society; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the American Legislative Exchange Council recommends that the scarce resources of the law enforcement and criminal justice systems be focused upon uniform, consistent, and just sentencing, speedy trials, and increased punishment and incarceration for those who commit violent crime.

ALEC's Sourcebook of American State Legislation 1995