The reason for the 2nd amendment is to protect from abusive government. With the adoption of the John Warner defense spending act of 2007, the presidend assumed power over all state and national guard units in the U.S. So the 2nd amendment (an armed citizenry) is now more necessary than ever. If our local guards can be removed, relocated, etc., who's to secure the peace in a defenseless area? And the Federalist papers (discussions by the founding fathers about why they were doing what they did) make it clear the 2nd amendment supports the first. You can't maintain your right of expression (right to free speech, religion, to assemble) unless you can protect that right against people who would like to take it away. And government is the only organization large enough to take the right away, so it has to be held in check. With the fear of weapons.

As far as shrimp, etc. killing people, those things aren't being FORCED on school kids. The toxic drugs are.