Martian

That strikes me as a bit melodramatic. Most of the world does not share your right to keep and bear arms, yet somehow we survive with our liberties intact (and indeed, some of us seemingly have more liberties than you do; I could legally marry another man, if that were my inclination).

I should state now that I have nothing against firearms themselves or firearm owners. Hell, I like guns; I can appreciate them both from the engineering standpoint as well as the testosterone-informed enjoyment of anything that makes big noises and blows shit up. I have no personal desire to own a gun, but if that's your bag than I say more power to you

What I specifically fail to comprehend is the mindset that some people seem to have regarding this issue. Part of this is due to what I see as an ungrounded fear; I simply do not understand the thought process of an individual who is so afraid for their personal safety that they feel the need to be armed at all times. I can't help but wonder if that ties into the whole second amendment deal itself. Maybe the reason that I don't feel the need to carry a weapon outside of my home (or indeed, inside it) is because I know that guns are restricted here sufficiently that the odds of me encountering one in my day-to-day life that isn't strapped to the hip of one of our fine officers of the law is exceedingly small? I don't know, just a bit of random conjecture.

But yeah. The point is that I have no problem whatsoever with responsible gun ownership. You want to keep them in your home to defend yourself and your loved ones? Well, sure, go for it. I can get behind that. And if you really, really feel that it's such an untamed wilderness out there that you need personal protection while going about your daily routine, I guess I can kind of dig it. I mean, I don't share that particular fear, but then Jello creeps me out. I don't see that we need to have the right to carry a concealed weapon in my part of the world, but that's a choice that you as a nation have made and I'm not about to tell you otherwise.

At the same time, I think it's foolish for anyone not to recognize that a firearm is a weapon, designed with the specific intent of injuring and/or killing other living beings. This doesn't mean that it doesn't have a legitimate place in the world. What it does mean is that owning a firearm carries with it a large burden of responsibility; it is my opinion and one I don't expect to have contested that when you make the decision to acquire a firearm you are taking on the responsibility that said firearm does not contribute to the harm of others except when it's completely unavoidable. If someone is going to be injured or killed, it's better that it be the aggressor. Otherwise, it's up to you to show the necessary wisdom to keep your weapon in a manner that will not lead to injury of yourself or others. Do you think every individual is capable of this?

If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. If, however, you give guns to everyone, outlaws will still have guns, but so will every individual who lacks the necessary judgment to handle them responsibly. Clearly, there needs to be a middle ground.

EDIT - Holy hotbed, Batman! Look at all the replies!

Very insightful. I would take the argument further, however, and suggest that many citizens are not capable of bearing the level of responsibility required. This, of course, is going from the frying pan to the fire, as one is required to ask how much can we abridge individual freedoms for an individual's own good? It's a very fine line to walk.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame