Right to own guns?

Question

Why would people a civilized society consider guns as a right? To defend oneself? Isn't that why we have a law and order agencies for? If one has to defend oneself why do we pay taxes for a police force?

In the same vein, should we allow Iran to produce Nuclear weapons? They have a right to defend themselves against other countries, right?

Answer 1

law enforcement should only own guns. not normal citizens

Answer 2

The responsibility of the Police is to protect Society...not the individual. This has already been decided in Court in the USA. It is the individual's responsibility to provide for their own defense.

A gun is simply a tool. A very effective, and very dangerous tool, but only a tool. Those who wish to take away weapons do not trust others. Understandable, since there are many preadators in this world.

What they miss is the fact that the preadators will always be with us. If we could take up all those terrible guns, there would still be bad guys. Trouble is, now the only way to defend yourself from their attack is by hand.

This means that Might now makes Right. Any 250 pound man can freely assault any 98 pound woman, and ther's pretty much nothing she can do to prevent it. And martial arts don't count...how namy of us have the years it takes to become skilled enough to take on someone more than twice our size? And what if they know karate, too?

However, if the woman has a gun, things are now even.

All taking guns from civilians does is make them targets of the criminals who didn't turn in their weapons.

All allowing guns in the hands of civilians does is level the playing field. It makes attacking civilians risky, instead of risk-free.

Answer 3

of course. We have cops. They do not live in my house or any where close. When a nutcase breaks in. I have the right to defend my family and property. Last time I checked a baseball bat vs the criminal's .357 puts me at a disadvantage.

We pay the taxes and keep the police around to quell the lawlessness. Go read up on the 1870-1900 in the USA then come readdress this question.

That and 1st Amendment: thats enough..

Nukes: You are kidding right? I do believe Nukes and Hand guns are 2 different topics...Let me help you out here: Lets use a 9mm..with ten shot clip...1 in the chamber makes 11 bullets...I miss with 4, I could possible hit 6 people. Now, a Nuke, 10 Kiloton warhead: a whole city gone.....You see the difference??
Nuclear weapons are not designed as weapons they are designed as deterrents. But in the hands of Iraq, DPRK, they will become weapons.

Answer 4

1. We consider this a right granted to us as a "well armed militia" under the articles of our constitution which has already been raped and shredded enough thank you.

2.Yes, to defend oneself in the event we do not have a local policeman living in our livingroom.

3.No, realistic thinking tells one that there are not enough law enforcement officers to handle the caseload in today's world. We must have some responsibility for taking care of ourselves.

4.Taxes are paid for a reasonably efficient form of law enforcement. Sadly, the teeth have been taken from many agencies by the thuggy criminal element and their exploitation of the legal system.


I personally own a very powerful handgun, a Mav 88 shotgun with drumloader and Iam licensed to carry and have been trained and checked out on such weapons as the MP5-N, M249 SAW and the fact is, if one enters my residence uninvited, they will be dealt with in the most severe way allowed by law.

Anything else?

Answer 5

It is in a civilized society that individuals have rights, and esp in America it was viewed as an important right.

Many beleive it is in protection, and of course police can not protect you when the person is breaking the window in, you have less than a minute to protect yourself.

But more important to protect the people from the Government, it was a fact that without weapons, the US would never had broken free of England, so they were concerned that if our government ever became evil, society would be able to take the government back for the people.
( they of course never imaged guilded missles, tanks, and the such)

Answer 6

Cause not all guns are used to kill people. Farmers need guns to defend their crops from wild animals. These are the crops that provide the food you need to survive. Also a farm needs a gun to put an animal out of it's misery, instead of waiting hours on a vet to get to the farm to inject it. There are also hunters who own guns. These hunters keep the animal populations in check so that there aren't as many deer to run into the road to cause automobile crashes and fatalities. So before you go blaming the gun for all the violence, think about the person who pulled the trigger. Guns don't shoot themselves. So yes this is our right to bear arms, but we also have the right to bear a sound mind and level head not to shoot our fellow man.

Answer 7

First, the US Supreme Court has ruled that the police do NOT have an obligation to protect you or anyone else.

So, yes, the basic human right of self-defense is a key reason why the Constitution specifically protected the right to keep and bear arms.

If you accept the human right of self-defense, but you don't allow guns, then in effect you are discriminating against the small / weak / old / blind etc in favor of big, strong, aggressive, trained people. Is that what you want?

Answer 8

The right to keep and bear arms is given for our protection from intruders foreign and domestic, also to protect us from our own government should it try to impose itself on us in a way that the constitution says is not within reason...I am a Democrat and I see this as a very important Right...

About Iran... They have the right to defend themselves sure....Nuclear weapons?... united nations has rules on enriching uranium and they will be breaking rules they signed as a party to...But, I understand why they feel as if they need them....Look what we did to their neighbor Iraq...

Answer 9

If someone breaks into your house with a knife or something threatening you or your family ,if you have a gun take care of them.By the time the police get there it can be too late. You or your loved one could be dead. Better them than you. States in which gun laws are strict have higher crime rates than those that don't.

Answer 10

During the 1960s civil rights movement the police in some southern states were the killers--many civil rights activists began carrying guns to stop this.

Answer 11

I just have one question for you, who is going to protect you if the government you trust so much become tyranical? I live in New Orleans after Hurrican Katrina, and I saw first hand what chaos, and lawlessness can do. Everyone has the right to protect thermselves. If you choose to remain unarmed, that is your decision.