In the 2nd year of college is English 101, wherein several speeches are to be given. 

We are each asked to pick a hot-topic of the day, then choose a side and present a convincing argument for it. I chose gun control-pro and did my research. I came up with several statistics about gun violence and even threw in a few personal anecdotes I knew that would bolster the position that guns weren’t really necessary, but could in fact be more dangerous than protective. I give my speech, no problems. 

Then we were supposed to have a Q&A period where the other students could ask questions. No other students asked any questions, so the teacher hit me first: Dave, those are great points, but what about the second amendment of the constitution that guarantees the right to bear arms? 

Me: Uhhh……… 

Yeah. It had never even occurred to me to look that up. My utter lack of a response was so awkward that the teacher just said, uh, ok, thanks. Who’s next?