This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Clearly, we need to support the Second Amendment — which means better, more sensible gun control laws.

People often talk about their Second Amendment rights in a way that shows they haven't read it.

Or, like the NRA and their minions in Congress, they have cherry-picked the part they like.

"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." The second part of the amendment is presented to support the first, which, historically, was about the fledgling military of the new United States.

Applied properly today, it would mean the U.S. military needs to be able to have guns. But even if we continue to support individual gun ownership, let's not pretend the founding fathers didn't start with the phrase "a well-regulated militia." Long before the AR-15 was invented, America's leaders acknowledged that guns and their wielders needed regulation.

Well. Regulated. The NRA opposes the Second Amendment. Along with Congress, they also oppose the will of the people who support better gun laws by a strong majority.

It's time for us to truly uphold the Second Amendment and regulate gun ownership well.

Kate Coombs

Bountiful