Gun Control is not Happening; Here’s Why

Gun control – it’s not going to happen. Site facts and statistic, use current events and blame the NRA. Nothing is going to happen. Pontificate on a soap box, sign petitions, post on social media. You’re missing the larger context. Women. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. This proposal, approved by the house and senate in 1972 has been languishing, waiting for ratification by at least 38 states.  Today, on average, a woman working full time earns 80.7 cents for every dollar a man. Oral contraceptives are were covered by 33% of insurance policies while 50% of insurance plans covered Viagra in 1996, the year Viagra was introduced in 1996. Birth control is considered a “lifestyle drug,” Viagra is considered medically necessary. The Affordable Healthcare act brought near parity to this until the Trump Administration rolled back the regulation mandating coverage of contraception in November of 2018. The ERA says:

Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

In 47 years, an amendment guaranteeing women equal rights under the constitution has yet to ratify. It’s a simple, uncomplicated amendment. The count is currently at 37 states with Nevada ratifying n March of 2017 and Illinois in May of 2018. Just one more state* In context, think about gun control. This starts with a debate about the interpretation of the second amendment of the constitution.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Is the constitution a “living” constitution with pragmatic interpretation or is interpretation originalism which asserts that all statements in the constitution must be interpreted based on the original understanding of the authors or the people at the time it was ratified. Ahem -“all men are created equal, the loophole allowing for slavery and women not being including in the right to vote. With ERA languishing,supporting originalism, kiss significant gun legislation goodbye. Yup, I’m mixing state and federal government to show a larger context. If governments are not moved to ratify ERA, nothing is going to happen with gun legislation which is already ratified amendment. Originalism is winning. Don’t get it twisted, with “liberty and justice for all,” is the pledge of allegiance, not legislation. Gun rights is legislation, ERA is a dream deferred.