he incessant nitpicking over the constitutionality of gun control misses the larger issue. Rather than arguing over minutia, let us ignore the specific wording of the Second Amendment and examine what the Constitution as a whole means to our country. The Constitution is merely a formal expression of the greater philosophies of our country: democracy, justice, and equality. The gun is a manifestation of these ideals which we hold near and dear. In fact, the right to bear arms makes it the ultimate symbol of our own social democracy, especially given the present accessibility of the gun and its ease of use. Praise the gun! When we realize these truths, we can finally march under a tangible representation of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Consider, for instance, the mechanisms of the modern, automatic handgun.

From short range, it takes little more than a finger pull to operate. The beauty of this is that the overwhelming majority of this country is capable of this action. No instruction required! All gun holders are equal in the eyes of their victims. Give a 6-year old an automatic at point-blank range and I guarantee that he or she will garner as much respect as a trained soldier. The gun has become something greater than its holder. It is a weapon that does not discriminate; indeed, race, class, gender, and age disappear behind it. At last, a foolproof weapon for social equality! The gun is neither a plaything of the elite nor a cultural phenomenon, but a public resource for all Americans, regardless of genetic ability or background.

Not only is the ability gap for the operation of a gun closing, so is the accessibility gap. Gun control is an inhibitor to equality of access to guns. Doesn’t every American deserve to have the same right to these arms? The ability to kill is an impressive power. It would hardly be fair to afford it only to an elite group. Aren’t we all equal under the law and entitled to the same rights? Every restriction imposed is selectively discriminating. As it is, we are still pretty lucky that guns are remarkably convenient. Any teenager, depressed, vindictive, or otherwiseÁ has the ability to grab a gun and fire off a few rounds in an exercise of "social justice."

In this age where race and class differences threaten deep divides, let us be thankful we have the gun as a hope for social equality. As the USSR worked under the banner of the sickle and hammer, let us live under the glorious sigil of the gun. We can all now rest in peace, knowing that justice is buried deep in the heart of American society.