A question of gun ownership....?

Question

I ask, with respect for all answerers - I mean no offence. But coming from a country that doesn't legally allow gun ownership, I would like to understand why it is so important for the US to continue to allow private gun ownership. I know - 2nd ammendment. But aside from that...why do you feel that it is so important to own a gun? Again, I know - criminals have them. But do two wrongs make a right?

I'm truly hoping to have a clearer understanding of the American mindset when it comes to guns....thank you, in advance, for your answers...

Thank you - one and all. This is the first time I've read answers to questions and haven't felt ridiculed. And I've learned alot. I certainly have a better understanding and respect for American citizens' right to own a gun.

Answer 1

As one who has enjoyed shooting sports literally all of my life and who has been an active participant in the great gun debates of the past couple of decades I can tell you that there are many faces to this issue. I will give you a brief summery of two of the most prominent.

Firstly, we are a free country and the issue of firearms ownership is more one of private property rights than it is about crime prevention. While it is true that firearms can and often are used in crime, the same can be said of many objects including automobiles, rubber gloves, face masks, etc... Removing one's right to own and operate an automobile would, without a doubt, reduce the number of people killed by automobiles as well as the amount of crimes committed involving automobiles. The question is whether our government has a right to deny us ownership of an item because it has the potential to be misused. The fact of the matter is that the *vast* majority of privately owned firearms (well over 98%) are never used in any sort of crime or violent act against another human being. To the private firearms owner who uses his firearms for recreational purposes the idea of taking away the right to own them makes about as much sense as taking away the right to own cricket bat because it is possible to bludgeon someone with it. To the recreational firearms owner firearms are sporting equipment, nothing more. It is unfortunate that the media has turned their perception in the eyes of those who know little about them as being some sort of “mystical death machine”.

The second item I wish to acquaint you with has to do with our history as a nation. The ugly (but beautiful) truth is that the right to keep and bear arms was expressly protected as a way to ensure that the population at large was sufficiently armed to prevent a government grown out of control from having the means to force its will upon an otherwise unwilling population. The second amendment is often referred to as the teeth that protect our freedom. Additionally, at the time our constitution was written the armed population was known as the “militia”. As a side note, I find it unfortunate that one of the byproducts of recent attempts at denying us our second amendment rights through control of public perception was to equate the term “militia” with “radical anti-government extremist”, but that’s another story. In lieu of a standing army the theory was that the armed populace (the militia) would act as our primary defense against a military invasion. Of course, times have changed and military technology has advanced, but the principal is still the same.

I hope this helps you better understand a couple of the many issues surrounding private firearms ownership in the United States of America.

Answer 2

1) 2nd Amendment IS part of the Constitution and there's a reason. I'm glad I don't live next door to the Michigan Militia but I'm also glad they're there and I honestly do think that if you're ever looking for a reason why the IRS doesn't just come to your door and take your stuff and make you prove that you don't owe them back taxes, the Michigan Militia and groups like them are part of that reason, just like the Lexington MILITIA are why we're not still part of the UK. And it does say MILITIA not National Guard.

2) Self-protection - - well, you get only one life.

3) You ask why do two wrongs make a right - but why is it wrong to own a gun? You ask why is it so important, we don't "NEED" a gun - - well, arguably some people do, which is why gun ownership is considered more sacred in say Montana, where you could walk out the door and find a bear and where you live 10 miles from the police station, than say Newton, MA. But who CARES if you don't "need" one - you don't "need" much - should we ban everything you don't "need?" Homosexuals don't "need" to sodomize each other - why do they get so upset when people try to outlaw sodomy, which arguably you could rationalize in that it would save lives? They get upset for a lot of good reasons - the same reasons gun owners get so upset when people try to outlaw guns.

Target practice is FUN. Some people compare it to golf - I think it's more like horseshoes or bowling. I suck at all of them but it's fun. It's you trying to defeat the laws of physics.

I guess it comes down to what your standard is - do you think anything that one doesn't objectively "need" is a candidate for a ban, or do you think people ought to be free to do what they want limited only in that they aren't allowed to limit ANOTHER'S freedom.

America was founded by people in the latter camp and many of us still feel the same way.

Answer 3

It is part of the history of this nation. This nation being so young was founded on the gun. It was the gun that fought the revolutionary war, it was the gun that tamed the wild west. It is part of who we are.

The average citizen owning a gun is not a wrong like you say. It is in the use of a weapon which makes it wrong. Guns kill fewer people per year than doctor malpractice, should then doctors be outlawed?

With freedom comes responsibility. The crime rate in this country is higher than most simply because we are free. Our actions are not controlled by the government, although we do have a fair system of law. The average citizen must have a means of protecting themselves against the "bad guys" and those "bad guys" do have guns. We are not that far removed from the wild west, perhaps as our society evolves the gun will become obsolete but right now when I have a young daughter sleeping in the room next to mine I am happy that I have my Desert Eagle to protect her from those that want to do her harm. Thanks for the question.

Answer 4

The second amendment of our constitution allows for ownership of guns. Generally for protection and sport. Unfortunately there are people who misuse the right to bear arms and commit crimes using them.

In the event someone were to invade our country we have some basic means of fighting back. In the days before modern weaponry we had muskets and a few canon along with swords the fact that an ordinary citizen owned a firearm was a deterrant to would be tyrants to try and take over.

It is not the guns that kill it is those using the guns that kill.

Answer 5

I come from a hunting environment here in Texas. We should have the right to bear arms- there may come a day when that will be our only personal defense. While that may not make sense to you, it does to us gun owners. We do not break the law and we are not in the "wrong" for wanting a gun. Your mindset has been developed by different background. We gun owners do not intend to take your freedom away if you choose not to own a gun. It is true that this country was founded by people who owned guns, and they thought enough of it to protect it for us. We also do a lot of sport (target) shooting which I consider a hobby. You may prefer golf or handball, but you don't see us trying to take your clubs or your equipment away from you (I know they can't kill). What about protection from the criminals? If I see someone in my house, I will shoot first and ask questions later. The police only help to find someone after the innocents are violated. Take away the guns from law abiding citizens (removing all doubt about their existence to the crooks) and you have escalated the crime. Criminals will always stay above the effects of the law, so why punish us for things that they will do regardless of gun control or not. In short, our forefathers had a right to have them, they preserved the right by documenting it in our Constitutional amendments, and our heritage of hunting and gun sports has kept the need to have them alive; therefore, if I choose to have a gun, I should have the basic freedom to have one.

Answer 6

We have a long history of civilian gun ownership in this country so I would imagine tradition plays no small part in our mindset.

The people that founded this country had a profound mistrust of an all powerful government and it's ability to run roughshod over it's citizens. They realized that a well armed population is essential to act as a check on tyrants

Why do I personally feel it's important to own a gun ? Simply put, because my government is armed. To borrow a quote from a man who's name I have forgotten "How can I trust my government if my government can't trust me with a gun".

I appreciate the respect shown in your question and I appreciate your desire to try and understand the subject matter.

Answer 7

It comes down to a fundamental question: Either you believe that people have a right to provide a measure for their own security (and their family's) or you believe that they do not, and should rely solely on the government for protection.

Like the founding fathers and millions of other Americans, I believe the former.

Either way, guns are here to stay. The government can pass all the laws that it wants to, but criminals will NEVER give up the tools of their trade. Criminals do no obey the law (that's why they are called "CRIMINALS.") Gun laws only disarm law-abiding citizens, and they're not the ones causing the problems.

Only the brainwashed, ignorant, or naive have problems with law-abiding citizens owning firearms.

Answer 8

I am answering this from a gun owning, concealed weapons permit holding (Texas) citizen of the US.

The premise behind the ability to own and bear arms is that we as US citizens have the inherent right to protect ourselves from those that would deny us our liberty. The firearm affords us an advantage when it comes to defending ourselves and our family.

What you probably don't know is that in order to carry a weapon, we must undergo a rigorous background check - no felonies, no misdemeanors, no DUI, no arrests in a certain time frame (arrest is NOT the same as a conviction). Basically, we are the safest people out there.

Me owning a gun is NOT wrong as you perceive it. I have done nothing to earn that moniker. What is wrong is not protecting my family when someone breaks into my home and harms me or my family - and I need all the tools at my disposal to do so.

Answer 9

I use mine for hunting and target, I have owned guns since I was 12 years old and I have never used them other then for the purpose stated. I enjoy these sports and would not like to see my guns taken away under any circumstances. The framers of the Constitution intended for the citizens to own guns so that if another revolution was needed at some point, the people would have the means to do it. There is a difference between a one shot muzzle loader and a clip that holds, 30 rounds though.

Answer 10

You see we do not look at gun ownership as a wrong.
It is also the best insurance to our continuing freedom.
Your government can declare martial law and what could you do about it?
Our government would hesitate any draconian measures because they know we are an armed populace.
So if you think guns are 'wrong' then you will NEVER get the answer because of your preconceived notions.
Guns are a tool for self defence. They are a staple tool on the ranch and in the country.
You see guns don't kill people.
People kill people.
Why is it so important for other nations to rid you of your right to bear arms?
Do you think if all western civ got rid of guns and only radical regimes had guns that peace would follow?
Peace is found on the inside first.
You need to ask why you equate guns with wrong.