Why should we have the right to bear arms?

Question

Most civilized countries do not allow their civilians to own and bear arms.

To those that say, protect ourselves, You wouldn't need to protect yourself from armed criminals if all guns were removed from society and anyone caught with them face a lifetime in jail

Answer 1

Because we have the right to defend ourselves. This country was founded because of a bunch of guys with guns who weren't afraid to stand up for what they believed in. And crime is so rampant in this country; once they take all the guns away from criminals, that's when I'll hand over mine.
But what about hunting?

Edit after reading additional details: There will always be criminals with guns, no matter how steep the penalties. When you outlaw guns, you only make the citizens vunerable, because only the criminals have them. Your's is a idealistic view, and maybe someday, we as a society might get there, but it will be a long road, that's for sure.
Besides, I love pistol target shooting with my .40 S&W!

Answer 2

Yeah other countries have kings, and queens too. Look you can't rely on the police all of the time, there's never a cop around when you need one,"they only show up when you have a burnt-out brake light, on your car". A gun is an awesome responsibility, you have to be able to clean it, take care of it, and be able to hit what your aiming at. And if you own a gun you never point it at someone and say reach for the sky, by the time you can say those words, you've been shot. Besides you don't think the criminals buy their guns from a sporting goods store, do you? Only people who want to protect themselves do that. It's better to own a gun and never have to use it, than to not own a gun and need one. I have owned a gun of some kind for most of my life, and so far, I've never had to use it on another human. And I hope, and pray I never do, but it's a comfort having one. "Oh yeah" I'm just as good with a knife, or a baseball bat.

Answer 3

So if you or anyone else breaks into my home and attempts to harm or kill my family I can defend myself and protect the ones I love.

****The problem isn't law abiding citizens having guns. The problem isn't the laws of this country either. ****

The problem is that criminals/unregistered gun owners have guns and the current laws are not being enforced. That is all the more reason why law abiding citizens should continue to have the right to protect themselves.

Additionally, you will never get all the guns from the criminals. Criminals won't willing give up their arms. Why should they? They are criminals!

So, what you are left with, according to your plan, if all the criminals armed to the teeth, and everyone else defenseless. The police would be overwhelmed. The criminals would know this and America would become similar to Somalia, Africa. Warlords and gangs would terrorize the people and their would be no security and no protection.

IS THIS WHAT YOU DESIRE? If so you are sick.

Americans must maintain their right to bear arms.

Answer 4

The framers of the Constitution knew that a great way to keep a government in check was to make sure the ordinary citizen could defend themselves when necessary....whether that be against invaders, or a government gone wild.

Of course, they probably never saw where we'd get to today...for them, invasion was still a real possibility (and indeed happened on a couple of occasions), and they knew they'd need every available arm-bearer if future conflicts arose on our own turf.

However, for all the villanization of gun owners in this country, we are still better off as citizens to have this right. There's really no point arguing why here, nobody on either side of this issue are going to be swayed in a forum like this. I would simply say that those who oppose personal gun ownership do so for emotional reasons, not rational ones.

Answer 5

1) It's in the Bill of Rights. 2) Just because "everybody" else is doing it does not make it right nor does it mean that we should do it (after all, no one earth had a republican form of government when we were founded, why start following the crowd?). 3) Say, there is a natural/national disaster (like Katrina) and people are running around looting - are you telling me that you would want to let them come in and rob you? Because if there's no gun around, that's exactly what would happen.

And as for no guns on the streets if there's a law against it - that's just ridiculous. People who murder face a lifetime in jail - does that stop them? Drug are illegal - does that mean they aren't sold on the street? There was similar logic used during prohibition and we all know how well that worked out.

Answer 6

Yes,we know, and that's why we have to come save your arses when you are taken over by a couple drunks with guns.

In the last few years, several countries from the UK confiscated guns from their citizens, and violent crime immediatly soared. Good job, idiots. Maybe you think a high violent crime rate is civilized, but I sure don't.

The real reason for arms here is part of our foundation. The founders were very intelligent people, except in relation to slavery, of course, and understood the greatest threat to freedom was the goverment itself. So, they added the Second Amendment to the Consitution so the people could defend themselves against the government.

If you don't like arms, please go to a country such as Sudan or Rwanda that is so highly civilized and leave us in peace.

Answer 7

You better get with the program. You appear to be black. Any black person who can't understand why they would always want that right is out of touch with reality. You don't want to be the only person coming to the gunfight with a knife, talking about what most civilized countries do not allow. Don't you remember what happened to the Japanese Americans? They were citizens. The Jews in Germany? They were citizens.

What do you believe in? The right to Arm Bears?

Answer 8

That is one lining that actually protect us from foreign invasion and dictators.

As people has the right to bear arms, eveyone can becomes soldiers. It deters foreign forces from coming in.

As of domestic dictatorships, everyone can bear arms that stop any military dictator to post his will on the public.

If you look at some "democratic" countries which actually dictatored by military coup. And they don't have democracy at all. People is vulnareable to those armed soldiers and local warlords.

Answer 9

So that our military doesn't turn against us.

You laugh, this sounds ridiculous, right? Well, when that document was written, that is what was happening exactly.

Yes, you say, but that was 200 years ago, it would never happen today! Welllll -- take a look around you. There are many places in the world to prove that idea wrong.

Answer 10

Probably to protect ourselves and feed ourselves when people lived off the land. This will be swept away, too, I believe.