The following was written by Nicholas Mejia, a student at Merced College and former SFL Intern.

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To some, it’s just another meme from a veteran Facebook page. But it means much more to me.

See, for me, a rifle, a handgun, or anything in between is not just a gun — a sentiment I am willing to bet most veterans share.

To me, weapons are a personal connection to my past, and specifically a time in my life which made me who I am today. More than that, they’re a symbolic connection to the historical legacy of warriors who stood up for human dignity and fought for the rights of others — including those who forged this nation out of revolution. To me, these weapons represent my right to defend the ones I love and the property we labored tirelessly to accrue. Any philosophy which denies us the right to own such weapons, also denies us the dignity and freedom they protect.

When I first enlisted in the Marine Corps, I swore an oath to defend the Constitution against enemies foreign and domestic and, although I am not on active duty anymore, all my energy is still directed at this goal. It’s for this reason that I promise to make time for everyone and anyone who wishes to learn how to handle a weapon.

Not only does this ensure the next generation of gun owners will use them safely and for the right reasons — it helps ensure that this next generation will exist. With so many buying into all the anti-gun fearmongering, a little exposure to what weapons are actually like (not to mention the people who own them) can go a long way.

If everyone who knows how to use a weapon joins me in this mission, I am confident the perceptions of weapons will change. And that one day, all Americans will understand that it is not just a gun at stake in the current debate, but something much more dear.

This piece solely expresses the opinion of the author and not necessarily the organization as a whole. Students For Liberty is committed to facilitating a broad dialogue for liberty, representing a variety of opinions. If you’re a student interested in presenting your perspective on this blog, visit our guest submissions page.