"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." —- full text of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

The judiciary has interpreted the Second Amendment to exclude the first part of this foundation of our constitutional set of rights. We have permitted our government to abandon the commitment to a well-regulated militia. Perhaps a solution to the senseless shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois is to reinvigorate the commitment to a well-regulated militia by mandating training as a requirement for gun ownership.

The problem is not guns per se. It is when those guns are in the hands of people who should not have them. A requirement that gun owners undergo mandatory training would provide an opportunity to assess the fitness of a gun owner to have the weapon. Those people on medication for mental illness could be restricted until they have recovered.

Mandatory training would not take the guns from criminals, but would better assure a well-regulated militia to guard the populace from criminal elements. Perhaps over time it would reduce the availability of weapons to criminals, as the waiting period on buying a gun would be replaced by training that the applicant would have to complete before receiving the weapon. This would facilitate the background checks necessary to authorize the gun buyer to be included as part of the militia.

Different levels of training would be required depending on the weapon. Huntsmen with long guns might only be required to attend a periodic refresher course timed with the various hunting seasons. The training for guns in urban areas would be different. People having guns to defend their home would be trained for that use, including the safe storage of weapons. They would also be taught to use the weapon effectively. Lastly, members of the militia carrying weapons in public urban areas would obtain the highest level of training. They would be trained in not only the handling of the weapon but also conflict resolution.

Providing mandatory training would be a new service industry, funded partially by fees paid by owners and partially by our taxes. Commercial interests could prosper. Conscientious people should embrace training and engaging with other people having similar interests in responsible gun ownership.

With the right of gun ownership comes the responsibility of being part of the militia. However, legislatures cannot take action in this direction until such time as the judiciary puts the pieces of the Second Amendment back together and validates the requirement for a well-regulated militia for modern times.

> Richard C. Oppelt lives in Lawrenceville.