Why do people fear firearms? Do you believe the government can protect you at all times in all situations?

Question

When the Florida concealed carry law went into effect, anti gun view proponents decried the law saying that blood would run in the streets. In fact, what occured was a reduction in crime. Kennsaw Georgia has a "must have" ordinance, a law which states each household must have a firearm. Last time I looked, Kennesaw did not have anywhere near the murder rate of say, Washington D.C. with its thirty year gun ban. Which it is interesting to note, was just declared unconstitutional by an appeals court. I'm just curious. My second question points to the Preamble of our contitution which guarantees me the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, If the goverment repeals our 2nd amendment rights. Can they protect me at all times, in all situations, in all places?

Answer 1

People don't fear firearms; they fear the violence that is inflicted with them by criminals and lunatics. In many cases their fear is well-founded, but I'll be the first to tell you that the outlawing of guns is not the solution. If someone is determined to commit murder - even mass murder - they're going to find a way to do it. They'll just use a different tool.

And that's what a gun is - a tool. If I place my 9mm on the table in my kitchen, that tool will lay there immobile and do absolutely nothing until someone picks it up and uses it. As the old saying goes, "Guns don't kill people; people kill people."

I believe that our Founding Fathers - all educated men and not just simple farmers - arraigned the Bill of Rights in a specific order. They realized that the first most important right we had was that of free speech - and that the second most important right was the ability to defend your first most important right if someone, including (and especially) the government tried to take it from you. Basically put, we have a First Amendment because we have a Second Amendment.

If you want an excellent example of how gun control laws don't work, I can give you three - Great Britain, Australia, and Washington DC. It is illegal in all three of these locations to own a weapon, and in all three locations crime has increased and/or is rampant because only the criminals and the police have guns. And in all three locations, the criminals vastly outnumber the police. Washington DC, by the way, has THE HIGHEST MURDER RATE IN THE NATION. How can that be, if private legal ownership of guns is against the law? Simple - the law-abiding citizens don't have guns to protect themselves, but the criminals have them and don't care if they're illegal or not.

"Gun control" has been proven statistically NOT to work. Yeah, I know you can massage statistics either way, but the bare truth of the matter is - as was proven in first Florida and then the other states that adopted a "must issue" concealed carry law - an armed populace is THE BEST deterrent to crime there is. The United States Supreme Court has issued an opinion stating that the police HAVE NO REQUIREMENT to protect you. Their purpose is NOT to act as your bodyguard, but to enforce the laws. So if the police can't protect you, who will? Not the Federal government, that's for sure.

I have a concealed carry permit, and I'm almost always armed. I'm one of the people you won't read about in the papers or see on TV - I'm one of the people who was able to defend himself with a legally-purchased and legally-carried handgun when approached by two gang thungs in a mall parking lot late one night. Had I not been armed, I daresay that I would not have walked away from the encounter.

But you won't read about how guns SAVE lives, because that's not news. If it's good news, it's not newsworthy because good news doesn't sell papers or increase ratings or allow a politician to have a platform to run on.

This is a sad fact that I think needs to be changed.

Answer 2

I spoke with a gentleman from Canada (Toronto) some years ago and he was proud to say they didn't need guns and it was against the law to have them (hand guns I'm sure). Likewise, he was disgusted that Americans were pro-gun and had so much violence.

Of course we all know that Canada is not sanctuary of peace loving, anti gun, law abiding citizens. It has the same or similar culture as the US, with the same or similar crime. And, we all know statistics can be massaged anywhere.

I believe the majority of anti gun activist in the US are only acting in the interest of their political belief. If they were faced with a life or death scenario on the street, had the opportunity to shoot...they would!

As for the government protecting you at all times, in all places: They cannot protect you 100% and I don't believe anyone thinks they can.

Answer 3

People see the evil that firearms can do. They refuse to see the good. The government cannot protect me all the time, unless they want to provide me with a body guard 24/7. I have a concealed carry permit and a 9mm. I feel so much safer when I carry it. I carry it in my ankle holster, which I believe is a lot less accessible for a person to grab away from you.
My theory is, if you outlaw guns then only outlaws will have guns. Scary thought.

Answer 4

First off, that has to be the BEST worded arguement I've ever read for the pro-gun side. I am neither, as I don't know enough to form a solid opinion, but I would say whoever wants a gun will get one no matter who they are, and all these laws are rather pointless. That said, how does life liberty and the pursuit of happiness have anything to do with owning a gun???

Happiness is a warm gun...

Answer 5

Most people fear what they don't understand or know. Most of the people that would like to ban handguns and "assault rifles" have no idea how either operates and what a farce it would be. Those that grew up in the country, around firearms, understand and respect the power and those in the city only see the thugs robbing everyone. Most of cities that have strict gun control also have the highest crime rates because the criminals know the law abiding citizens are unarmed and easy prey.

Answer 6

People are taught by out public schools and by the anti firearm people that guns are the cause of all problems and crime and many beleive it, and as more and more are taught.

There is a fear of people having guns, it is from our government, since a citizen without weapons is much easier to control

Answer 7

The answer to the 1st part of your question is simple ignorance.

The answer to your 2nd question is that the courts have already ruled that the Government i.e. Police have no legal responsibility to protect you or anyone else as an individual. A logical and rational person whould then conclude that since the Police don't have any legal responsibility to protect you then that responsibility of protecting your life and property is yours. We know the government can't/won't protect us from anything.

Answer 8

And besides, when the crap hits the fan in this country (And it will) the police want t be able to amke sure that you cannot defend yourself.
So let the crimnals have guns, it makes good buinsess for our court system, becuase now the crime went up and we need more cops, more jails, more pay raises for the over-paid judges and court personal.
Like Larry The Cable guy said, "If guns kill people, then my pencil is to be blame for my spelling mistakes"

Answer 9

I don't have a problem with firearms, except maybe fully automatic rifles, as I can't think of a good reason to have one, but even in that case, if you are responsible enough to own one, have at it. Other than that, I don't think they should be outlawed. Even if they were outlawed, people would find a way to get them. Washington DC is a good example.

Answer 10

Anytime that you allow concealed carry in a state that has not had it, the crime rate always goes down. Criminals prefer unarmed victims.

It is better to have a gun and not need it than to need one and not have one