by PokkiTokki on February 13th, 2008

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Why are Americans so insistent about owning guns? It doesn't make it a safer place, and they obviously don't use it against their government if it takes away freedoms in this day and age.

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Answers. 21 helpful answers below.

by Sugar-licious a bellydancing rum maiden on February 13th, 2008
The Constitution is a limitation on the power of the Federal government. The ninth amendment states: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
The Bill of Rights is not intended to be an inclusive statement of our rights. All of our rights are to be equally protected under the Constitution, whether enumerated or not. The Constitution, in general, and Bill of Rights, in particular, are intended to be limitations upon the power of the federal government.

For Americans the right to keep and bear arms is an Inviolable Personal Right. As quoted by our Forefathers:

"This may be considered as the true palladium of liberty .... The right of self defense is the first law of nature: in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest limits possible. Wherever standing armies are kept up, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any colour or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction" -- St. George Tucker, Judge of the Virginia Supreme Court and U.S. District Court of Virginia in Blackstone Commentaries, 1803

"That the Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe on the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent ‘the people’ of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms… " -- Samuel Adams in arguing for a Bill of Rights, from the book "Massachusetts," Pierce & Hale, 1850 pg. 86-87

"The great principle is that every man be armed.... everyone who is able may have a gun." -- Patrick Henry

"As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the article in their right to keep and bear their private arms." -- Tench Coxe in "Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution," under the pseudonym "A Pennsylvanian" in the Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789.

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." -- Jefferson's "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776, quoting from On Crimes and Punishment, by criminologist Cesare Beccaria, 1764

"[The Constitution preserves] the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation...(where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." -- James Madison, Federalist, No. 46.

"If you love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." -- Samuel Adams 1776

"They that give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword because the whole body of people are armed and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States..." -- Noah Webster
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- Some jack-ass didn't like my answer, even though it is simply factual information about the Constitution and quotes from those who put it together and upheld it.
  
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  by Sugar-licious a bellydancing rum maiden on February 13th, 2008
- Some-jackasses like being brainwashed prisoners controlled by fascists and socialists.
  Here's some points. I completely agree with your answer.
  
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  by prisoner on November 18th, 2008
- very insightful, and much appreciated on my part. thanks for the info, and the interesting quotes to read. ++
  
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  by socrateswasfat on November 18th, 2008
- Thank you both very much.
  Prisoner, I very much enjoyed all the quotes on your profile page, my favorite being the following:
  "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." -- Ben Franklin
  
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  by Sugar-licious a bellydancing rum maiden on December 7th, 2008
- Thanks! I have many more,.. I keep meaning to add to the list but I never get around to it.
  
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  by prisoner on December 7th, 2008
- They're great. I know where to go look now when I need to find a quote quickly, lol!
  
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  by Sugar-licious a bellydancing rum maiden on December 7th, 2008
- ;o)
  
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  by prisoner on December 7th, 2008
- @Sugarlicious - I notice that all of your quotes about the wonders of gun ownership date from the late-18th and early-19th centuries.
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  Those MAY have been true then, when a farmer with a musket was on roughly equal terms with an infantryman, but today is rank BS.
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  People who think that their pistol/rifle/shotgun is going to 'protect their freedom' when the government busts in their door with a tank-mounted battering ram, flash grenades, tear gas, and 20 troops with automatic weapons and body armor have watched "Red Dawn" too many times.
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  I'm not particularly against gun ownership, but the people who deify the 2nd Amendment as a 'bulwark of freedom' are simply delusional.
  
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  by Old School on May 17th, 2009
- I don't think many people worry much about the government busting into their house. They're worried about thieves, robbers, rapists and similar. The government cannot protect us against these people once they're inside. Mostly they just clean up the mess afterwards. This is nothing against the police, they work hard. They are highly trained but they aren't magic. And they are spread thin.
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  A gun means I can defend myself and my loved ones from whatever threats materialize instead of hoping someone will come along and save me. This is self-reliance.
  
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  by Factotum on May 17th, 2009
- Old School, you don't make sense...
  
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  by prisoner on May 17th, 2009
- I should qualify my earlier statement as there are people who worry about the government busting into their houses. They're called criminals and they generally don't buy their guns from legitimate shops but rather from the 'street'. Gun control laws only affect legitimate shops.
  
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  by Factotum on May 17th, 2009
- @prisoner- I don't see how I can make it any simpler
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  If the government decides that you are a threat to them, they can come at you with *massive* firepower.
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  All the AK-47s in the world won't 'protect your freedom' if the government spies on you until they know when you're home, then drops a laser-guide bomb down your chimney.
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  There are perfectly legitimate uses for firearms, but trying to deify them as a 'bulwark of democracy' is ridiculous.
  
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  by Old School on May 17th, 2009
- so that's your answer to a fascist government?
  "they are so powerful and we can never beat them, so we should let them, and abandon our bill of rights, because there's no use."
  ??
  that's what it sounds like you're saying...
  .
  And Factotum, is basically right. The 2nd Amendent is meant to protect ourselves and property from any and all enemies, mainly criminals trying to break into our homes and steal our property.
  you know, "bad guys"
  
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  by prisoner on May 17th, 2009
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by The Reverend Soleil on February 13th, 2008
Actually, it DOES make our homes and streets safer; it's just that there's just no way to accurately tally how many crimes WEREN'T committed because a private citizen brandished a gun, or some hoodlum changed his mind about trying to mug or rob someone because he thought that person might be armed.
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- Actual there are pretty good ways of tallying just those kinds of statistics and guess what? You aren't safer! The streets of most major US cities are completely unsafe after nightfall.
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  A group of four friends were hanging together in Boston figuring that they'd be okay (safety in numbers)... they were mugged by a group of seven people.
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  Another friend was mugged in broad-daylight in San Francisco.
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  Still another was attacked and beat up in San Diego.
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  I visit port cities all over the world and they only city outside the US that has "no-go" areas is Port-o-Prince. On the other hand, every single large U.S. port city has areas marked as "no-go".
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  These are areas that we are urged not to go into as we may never return... and some who have entered have ended up on a slab.
  
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  by barsoom_redux on May 17th, 2009
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by OldCW wears The COAT of the Cosmos on May 17th, 2009
I'm not for preventing people from owning weapons, but we do need to make it as difficult as possible. Why? The number one victim of gunshot wounds in the U.S. is . . . relatives of the assailant. I think the vast majority of gun owners are safe and responsible, but the drunken or high as a kite minority need to be protected from each other and we need to be protected from them.

We can strike a balance here that makes everyone safer without giving up the precious right to fantasize about shooting intruders.
Comments
- Agreed. For a sign of the power of the NRA, just consider that a majority of the weapons being used by criminals in Mexico (including things like assault rifles and automatic weapons) are purchased for cash in broad daylight with no permits or background checks in U.S. guns shows, and then simply driven across the border with little chance of intercept by Mexican authorities. Really, they might as well just hand out these weapons to people walking by on the street.
  
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  by HasntBeen on May 17th, 2009
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by barsoom_redux on May 17th, 2009
Because every American kid in school is taught that owning a gun makes them free. Just load it and put it up there on the wall and you're automatically free (no other effort required). Most people don't even know why there is a law to allow them to keep and bear arms.

The right to keep and bear arms was given to you by the founders of your country in order for you to more easily rise up and throw down an oppressive government.

Well guess what... you missed it.

While you were hugging those guns close to your chest, the government has whittled away at almost every other freedom you have. The right to "keep and bear arms" has become a sop.

Take away their right to do this or to do that, but don't take away their guns and they'll be happy.

Wake up! Smell the coffee!

Hope this helps.
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- Wonderfully said. I wish I had more than a point to give.
  
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  by Chekarrild on May 17th, 2009
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by JakobA I^_^I the alooney on May 17th, 2009
Somehow the 'American West' of westerns have become synonymous with "The good old days" for many Americans. By association this extends to make firearms a positive thing.
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by Jadey - Vive la difference on May 17th, 2009
I have never been able to have this conversation (haven't even bothered on AB) without the American getting really pissed off.

It is so emotive, and often tied to completely unrelated concepts (like freedom and democracy). To take them away now wouldn't necessarily be wise since guns have become so engrained in American life, crime and culture - but I agree with your stance on this.
Comments
- I agree. And the National Rifle Assoc (NRA) spends millions of dollars every year to stop new gun control laws.
  
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  by wing.walker on May 17th, 2009
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by vera city on November 18th, 2008
http://www.ncpa.org/ea/easo96/easo961a.html

the above study shows you are mistaken about weapons not reducing violent crime. in england the government had taken away citizens guns and so they've taken to stabbing each other. now they want to make it illegal to carry knives as well!! where does it end?

and guns aren't always about killing people! my son has been a ranked county and state shooting competitor for the past 4 years. it's a hobby as well, target shooting, skeet shooting, trap shooting, 3D shooting, these are all safe and enjoyable sports that get kids outside away from the tv and teach them responsibility and competitive skills.

my whole family enjoys shooting sports and it's something we all do together!
Comments
- If you are to make comparisons between the US and UK vera city, then I would ask you to look at stabbings per capita in UK and compare that with shootings per capita in the US, you will see there are more murders per person from gun crime in the US than from stabbings in the UK.
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  The UK has one of the lowest rates of deaths from guns in the world plus only 8% of violent crimes in the UK has involved a knife (not all of these involve stabbing). It is not simply a case of if we don't have a gun, we will stab instead.
  
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  by Jadey - Vive la difference on May 17th, 2009
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by Mary Evans is not mad on November 18th, 2008
If you look at the start of the US, the only reason why those people were able to go against the British is because they had guns. If Americans did not have guns, there would be no way Americans could rise against them. If the current government takes away our right to carry guns, then we are open to be takenover by the government and there would be no way of Americans to fight back. I have the freedom to dress, talk, and live how I wish. If the government told me that I have to live the way they want me to live, then I have to be albe to stick up for my freedom. Then the government attacks me for trying to live free, what pretection do I have? A knife against an AK-47 or a M4. I rather keep guns near by.
Comments
- Wow, just what I would have said. We are just making sure we keep our freedom.
  
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  by Wind Walker on November 18th, 2008
- The problem with your theory is that your 9mm glock isn't going to stop a tank. We as a group no longer have the power to overthrow the governement without the support of the military. The entire reason for the clause has evaporated. Unless you think that we should be able to buy tanks, jets and nukes.
  
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  by ConservativelyLiberal on May 17th, 2009
- So better to stand there totally naked then?
  No still I want a gun.
  
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  by Wind Walker on May 18th, 2009
- For what exactly? To shoot yourself in the head before the missle launched from 300 miles away kills you?
  
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  by ConservativelyLiberal on May 18th, 2009
- Some of us Americans are smart. We can think up of something. I never tell myself, "it can't be done." There are others like that also. We will find a way. We did hundreds of years ago. Histroy is filled with those moments. 5,000 people against 800 people and the smaller army won. We don't need a general or a soft speaker. All we need is a few good men and women.
  
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  by Mary Evans is not mad on May 18th, 2009
- Yes and for every 5000 vs 800 battle where the 800 won. There's a hundred Alamo's. Reality check, 9mm vs. nuke, nuke ALWAYS wins.
  
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  by ConservativelyLiberal on May 18th, 2009
- Not in James Bond games LOL
  
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  by Mary Evans is not mad on May 19th, 2009
- You're right on that account.
  
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  by ConservativelyLiberal on May 19th, 2009
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by Freddy Says remove all moderation points on February 13th, 2008
They have some sort of historic right to bear arms. I suppose this is similar to the Swiss, where every home has a firearm (or so I believe).

However, where gun crime in Switzerland is small, gun crime in the USA is large (both a a percentage of the population). Poverty is no excuse. The Swiss have poverty too, and also ethnic minorities.
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- The Swiss also get their guns after compulsory military service. They were trained extensively how to use them, and are intended as a military weapon in the case of an attack. It makes mobilisation faster.
  
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  by PokkiTokki on February 13th, 2008
- The problem may have more to do with the import and peddling of illegal drugs and the number of illegal aliens in America. *I have no problem with anyone who wants to immigrate to America legally. I welcome them with open arms.
  
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  by Sugar-licious a bellydancing rum maiden on February 13th, 2008
- Those are both interesting facts, Freddy Says and PokkiTokki!
  
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  by Jadey - Vive la difference on May 17th, 2009
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by Jaded on May 17th, 2009
Because when this country was founded, the settlers came from a place where guns were disallowed. When they were deciding how they wanted their government run, they chose to create and protect the civilian's right to bear arms.

You say that guns don't make "it" a safer place, but I disagree. My home is a safer place because I own several handguns. Because I have the right to carry my pistol concealed, wherever I go *is* safer for me.

I don't really follow your statement about using "it against their government". The ways in which we change our government is with our voting and lobbying voices, not with weapons or the threat of death. We may seem like barbarians, but we really are a civilised nation. :)
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- Private gun ownership throughout Europe was commonplace until well after the European settlement of North America.
  
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  by Brian I on December 9th, 2009
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by SpeedIceSkater on May 17th, 2009
It does make it safer. There are thousands of instances where people have saved their own life by protecting thenself. Liberal press just does not want to report on it, as their agenda is like the US dem-o-c-RAT communist party; to diarm America. My OWN experience is that on 2 occasiona, had I not been armed, I would have been robbed/beaten up. My motto is: "I DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT MY GUN"!
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by mrrw on May 17th, 2009
I'm an American. My belief however is that you can have all the shotguns, hunting rifles, target shooting, skeet shooting, sport guns you want. I find no reason for hand guns, or assault weapons to be in the hands of the general populace.
The argument that guns don't kill people, people kill people is ridiculous. People with guns kill people. It would be difficult to kill someone with a knife at 50-feet.
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by Lovehearts on May 17th, 2009
Yeah, I'm a bit unsure of that one too.
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- Feel free to comment instead of just giving me -5's.
  
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  by Lovehearts on May 17th, 2009
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by mrrw on May 17th, 2009
Another answer from the American.
Had the founding fathers, in their day of single shot muzzle loading weapons known what was to come in the line of guns, I doubt they would have been so anxious to let everyone have them.
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by snakebarber on May 17th, 2009
People owning guns is a deterrent, just like nuclear weapons are.
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by Eidelweiss on May 17th, 2009
Umm... have you read the 2nd Amendment.
We have the right to bear arms.
We should be insistent about our constitutional rights.
Comments
- written a long time ago. The world was a lot different back then. It's purpose was very different back then. So much has changed. needs to be updated. It's more of a gun control issue.
  
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  by Mr. Black on May 17th, 2009
- It don't matter when it was written. If we loose our guns then we loose our freedoms.
  
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  by 1858 Remington 1-21-13 on May 17th, 2009
- they have been lost a long time ago. go to your job pay your bills buy lots of stuff on your credit card pay your taxes go to your church this pill will make you thin vaccinate you children under 10 against sexually tranmitted diseases.(still no long term data) but as long as you have a gun you feel empowered. ya that sounds about right. ?!
  
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  by Mr. Black on May 17th, 2009
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by Thinker on May 17th, 2009
There are some good answers and some quite well written I might add.

The Federal government of the USA would like nothing better than to get the guns out of the hands of the private citizen for when they do tyranny will take place. The major gun control laws in the USA are written almost word for word from those by Adolph Hitler when he removed the guns from the hands of the general public in Germany; and we know or have read what happened after that.

I live in a "make my day" state in the USA making it legal to use deadly force if you or your property is threatened; or as in one case a neighbour’s property. In this instance two men were burglarizing a neighbour’s home. The man called 911 telling them about the burglary and he was going to stop them. 911 told him to let the police take care of it but he went out and using a shotgun shot and killed both burglars. He was not prosecuted.

As one of our local policemen has said, “It is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have one!” The police cannot be everywhere all the time. A gun can be your first line of defense.

I was given my first BB gun at about age 7, my first rifle, a 22, at age 10, and my first shot gun at age 12. My father taught me how to properly use a gun and to this day I follow his training. I will not give up my guns without a fight today especially from a government that wants to move this government towards a “one world government” taking away all our rights as a people.

Yes, there are too many criminals using guns to commit crimes and with the massive lay-offs this country is now facing, the crime rate is going to soar as people become more desperate; many times the only protection one may have is from a loaded gun nearby and handy.
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by Suomynona on November 18th, 2008
My sister scared two burglars off by merely presenting a gun, even thought a)it wasn't loaded and b)the safety was on. Consequently, though, none of our stuff is gone.
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by AK First Blitz on May 17th, 2009
It does make it safer when a bear is coming in your door ar a rabid moose or cougar. Guns do make it more safer without a doubt. It is a fact that guns make it safer. You live up here and say that and a bear will have you for a meal.
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by crakur on May 17th, 2009
My main point has always been that guns are for self-defense, and taking them away from average joe does one thing, it makes it so that he cant defend himself if someone breaks down his door, and furthermore, banning guns wouldnt do jack for criminals...

hint, hint, they buy them on the black market!
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- FYI. They buy them at poorly regulated gun shows. That's what actually happens.
  
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  by OldCW wears The COAT of the Cosmos on May 17th, 2009
- oh really? thanks for that take, then theres the famous MAC10, the only gun that has a really neat "collapsable" feature!
  
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  by crakur on May 17th, 2009
- If guns are only for self defense, an argument I agree with, then the most anyone needs is a long barrel .38 semi automatic pistol preferably with minimal recoil. It is a much better weapon in close quarters than any fully automatic rifle or pistol.
  
  The problem though, is that the person defending their home from a home invasion is typically at a tremendous tactical disadvantage. They are usually asleep and have very little time to react. That's why most of the time, people end up having their own guns pointed at them.
  
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  by OldCW wears The COAT of the Cosmos on May 17th, 2009
- yea, that is true, i think wha tit comes down to is that learning some form of hand to hand, self defense would be the best option
  
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  by crakur on May 17th, 2009
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by chopsticks on November 18th, 2008
I don't agree that "Americans" are so insistent about owning guns, that's a stereotype. I'm American and I don't own a gun and I know none of our friends have guns. However, when I grew up, my dad had quite a few guns. He taught me how to fire them, clean them and be safe with them. I don't own a gun because I don't see the point of having one. I don't hunt, I don't live in an area where I'm going to have the opportunity to protect myself with a gun. I personally love to shoot, but only at paper targets and skeet...so it's a recreational thing for me.

And you're right, it doesn't make the place safer because 9 times out of 10, the aggressor may or may not get shot by the intended victims gun, but the victim will be the one who has to answer to the police about the gun, the shooting, he or she will end up tangled in the court system for months, longr if they kill someone. Not to mention all of the accidental shootings of family members right in your own home. Some protection!
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Question

Why are Americans so insistent about owning guns? It doesn't make it a safer place, and they obviously don't use it against their government if it takes away freedoms in this day and age.

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