The Benefits of the Second Amendment In a tragic event such as a mass shooting, a large population of Americans is quick to draw the conclusion that the right to own a gun is harmful to society; however, the Second Amendment is what allows the American people to protect themselves from such shooting incidents. The privilege of owning a concealed firearm is beneficial to the American population when it is well regulated for reasons such as self-defense and the freedoms of expression that U.S. citizens are privileged to receive through the Second Amendment; provided they pass a background check. The Second Amendment is what makes the privilege of owning a gun legal. This thesis paper will highlight the benefits of the right to own a gun under the Second Amendment. Analysis of this amendment sheds light on the fact that the American people are allowed to own a gun and join a well-regulated militia. A militia is basically a civilian army that comes second to the national army in case of emergency. The ability to own a gun is not a right, but rather a privilege for US citizens who meet the applicable requirements. Not all citizens will meet these requirements. Gun control laws are standards intended to minimize violence and illegal gun use throughout the country. A nationwide firearms ban would be unconstitutional, simply because it goes against a constitutional amendment. For example, there is a long process to legally purchase a gun. First apply for a background check and a gun license, which is not a bad thing at all. Next, there are mandatory waiting periods before you learn the results of the background check and whether you are eligible for a gun license. Most states require you to take a firearms safety course to complete your gun license and prove that you are worthy of owning and using a gun. You can then purchase a gun and register it with the state, in order to prevent its illegal sale (smartgunlaws.org). For gun control activists who argue that guns are not beneficial to the safety of the American people, I present to you a quote from President Obama that says "I believe in the Second Amendment" (CNBC, Rosenfeld) The president makes the decisions on that which is better for the people of his country. Although simple, President Obama's words can tell us a lot. It tells us that the commander and chief of our country believes the Second Amendment is good for the American people. If President Obama or any of his successors thought the Second Amendment was bad for this country, don't you think they would have repealed it by now? With stricter background checks comes safer conditions. In Australia, “The American Journal of Law and Economics reported in