Why do Americans still defend the gun ?

Question

I really never under stood Americans with this freedom crap they spit back at people all the time “its my Constitutional right to own a gun” crap!!! , the constitution was written in 1700’s when the British was threatening them, and they was defending there land from British and taking the land from the Indians.

it's now 2007

In 1999, there were 28,874 gun-related deaths in the United States - over 80 deaths every day and i am 100% sure that’s wrong??

And Americans still defending the gun, saying its my constitutional right and all Americans spit back this crap about being free , you’re all being f**king brain washed, putting it nicely :-)


Maybe you’re all going through you’re dark age or something???.

After all, America is a young country and one day you might grow out of it. :-)

The gun-related deaths per 100,000 people in 1994 by

country were as follows:
U.S.A. 14.24
Brazil 12.95
Mexico 12.69
Estonia 12.26
Argentina 8.93
Northern Ireland 6.63
Finland 6.46
Switzerland 5.31
France 5.15
Canada 4.31
Norway 3.82
Austria 3.70
Portugal 3.20
Israel 2.91
Belgium 2.90
Australia 2.65
Slovenia 2.60
Italy 2.44
New Zealand 2.38
Denmark 2.09
Sweden 1.92
Kuwait 1.84
Greece 1.29
Germany 1.24
Hungary 1.11
Ireland 0.97
Spain 0.78
Netherlands 0.70
Scotland 0.54
England and Wales 0.41
Taiwan 0.37
Singapore 0.21
Mauritius 0.19
Hong Kong 0.14
South Korea 0.12
Japan 0.05

link

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/94/102921.htm?z=1728_00000_1000_nb_01

link

http://www.gun-control-network.org/GF01.htm

link

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6166

Answer 1

We as Americans use the Constitution as we see fit. For well over 100 years, we used it to say that blacks could be enslaved and treated as second class citizens, even though the Constitution says "All men are created equal." We used the Constitution to deny women the right to vote. The Constitution is much like the Bible in that it is interpreted literally when it suits one's interests and "read into" to find hidden meanings to support various viewpoints. There is no need to have all of these handguns. Americans need to take a look around. Have you ever heard of other countries have the same violence we do? That list above says it all....

Answer 2

When you say "grow out of it" perhaps you mean "when we'll see it your way".

Listen, I don't like guns, will never own one, and believe that gun control is the right thing to do. But until the Constitution is changed in a matter where guns become either illegal or very hard to come by, I will defend the Constitution, and those who adhere by it with their right to bear arms.

The Constitution is held almost sacred in the U.S., as it's been the foundation of our county for over 200 years. I know this doesn't mean anything to you, as you're sophisticated and superior and smarter than us in every way possible, and your country either doesn't have a written constitution, or has been through many in that time. But there are ways to change the Constitution through legal channels. This is the way to change the gun laws in the U.S.

But I'm glad to see another Brit, I presume, get on the soap box and plow another snotty reply to the Americans. You're our friends, right? LOL!!! You don't kick your friends when they're down.

Answer 3

i am wondering if you would like an actual, educated answer to your question, or if you just wanted to post another rant about why you think Americans are irrational.
In the event that you (or, at least, perhaps, one of the readers) would like an educated answer, I intend on answering your question in an intelligent manner.

Americans do not, in fact, "defend the gun". Rather, they defend their RIGHT to own a gun. There are millions of Americans who do not own guns, would never own a gun, and have never fired a gun, but still wish to protect the right for others to do so. Yes, the 2nd amendment was written in the late 18th century during a time when there were no handguns and the like.

However, we, as Americans, do not take disregarding amendments to the constitution lightly. the Bill of Rights (of which the 2nd amendment is part, in addition to the 1st amendment which guarantees the right of religion and the freedom of speech) is the people's guarantee of rights upon which the American government cannot tread. The government cannot violate a person's right to speak freely, assemble peaceably, etc. The government must provide an attorney to those peoples who are accused of a crime, as per the 6th amendment. If the 2nd amendment were to be repealed, the door would be opened so that other rights of the American people which are safeguarded in the Bill of Rights might be taken away as well.

For example, if the 2nd amendment were repealed on the grounds that it is "outdated" and that "the founding fathers never intended for Americans to possess handguns, etc", then one might argue that the founding fathers never intended that Americans should use their right of free speech to speak out against the government's use of the military. They could argue that an American speaking out against the government's use of the military is tool used by the enemy to bolster their own campaign. Alternatively, the government might argue that the founding fathers intended that only the federal government is barred from installing a national religion, but that the states might promote their own religious beliefs, and impose them thusly on their citizens.

As I said, guns themselves are not the thing which we defend. We defend the liberties, as set forth under the 2nd amendment, to own a gun. We protect the Bill of Rights, without which we would not have any guranatees of liberty. If one amendment can be tossed out for being "outdated", then the door is opened to toss out any and/or all of the Amendements that the government sees fit. This, we, as Americans, cannot tolerate.

Answer 4

John
Not all of us defend it.
It's true that when our Constitution was written, the guns were muzzle-loaders, and I don't believe our forefathers could predict the advent of semiautomatic weapons. NO average citizen needs to own one of these, or even a handgun; the entire point of a handgun is that it's portable, and easily concealed.
A vast number of Americans have been brainwashed by the very powerful gun lobby to believe that banning handguns and semiautomatics will eventually lead to hunters having to give up their rifles and shotguns. While I am not pro-hunting, I personally know of no hunters who use weapons like the one used at Virginia Tech to hunt deer, etc. It's a fallacy perpetuated by the National Rifle Association, which includes among its officials loonies like Ted Nugent.
There will be a brief flurry of interest in gun control, but it will---sadly---be beaten down and forgotten. Until the next tragedy.

Answer 5

Well, I have lots to say to your question, where to start...

The constitution was written in the 1700's and you think it should be thrown out or something since that was so long ago. How might you feel about the Bible and God then? How long ago was the Bible written? How old is God.
Your grandparents are old, should you discard them and what they believe in?
Just because something has been around for awhile, doesn't mean is it worthless.

You sound like just another politician. You want to punish the honest gun owner, the hunter, the sportsman for things that criminals do. It would be wonderful if people didn't kill other people with guns, that would be wonderful. That is not going to happen.

Most important, how would my husband protect us from someone who held a gun to us if our guns were taken away? The criminals will always be able to get their hand on guns illegally. As a law abiding citizen, I would'nt have any idea how to obtain a gun illegally.

Oh, and if you don't like America, that's fine, just have a little respect for those of us who do love it and wouldn't live anywhere else in the world even if given a choice. Can you please keep your negative thoughts to yourself.

Answer 6

Traditionally Good Hunters

Answer 7

Before the gun control act of 1968 there were less murders and guns were easier to obtain. Could it be that we have more a**holes running around high on drugs now than ever before?

Answer 8

i agree. screw the 2nd amendment that says u have the right to bear arms. i totally agree with you. that was written in the 1700's. i think it's a little dated. i hear all this talk about restricting the type of guns. and that it should be harder to get guns, but if guns are out there, whether it is legal or illegal, criminals will get their hands on it. there is a thing called the black market. just like drugs are illegal, but people get it all the time. it has to be either black or white. take out guns, there would be no gun violence. it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

Answer 9

If your not American then why do you care? If you are then move to a different country. Do you also realize that those deaths are probably due to people who illegally own guns, such as gang members, drug lords, etc? They'd still have them if they were illegal and then the law abiding citizens couldn't defend themselves. Your history is also incorrect. You are right about one thing, "it's my Constitutional right to own a gun" and I will always defend that right!
Assuming you are not American, you need to stop whining. Are you just jealous of our freedoms? We aren't f**king brain washed, but you sure are an idiot.

Answer 10

I assume your talking about the Virginia Tech Massacre. This psycho would still have got a gun even if they were outlawed in the US. Even in the UK its (apparently) easy to get a gun. I actually think our police should carry guns as the Americans do.