I think the "real" reason behind the 2nd amendment was to provide for future generations to take up arms against an oppressive government, just as the founding fathers (et al) did against the british in hte 1700s.

And yes, it has actually happened, right here in America, as recently as the mid-1940s.

Read all about it - http://www.jpfo.org/athens.htm

As for why I own a gun? Simple. Last 3 times I've had to call police (drunk drivers thru my fence) it took over 45 minutes each time. I'm not in the middle of nowhere, and there are 5 sherrif/highway patorol/city police officers that live within 5 minutes drive of me. No, a drunk doesn't seem to cause much danger, but considering I caught one of 'em trying to get thru my screen door and onto my porch, I feel much better knowing that I don't have to wait 45 minutes for help.

Just out of curiousity, what exactly *are* the typical laws regarding gun use? You guys are talking about killing snakes or other problematic animals - I'm assuming you live out in the countryside, rather than in the city? You can't fire a gun legally within any city, unless it's a life or death situation, can you? In Canada, you can't carry a gun anywhere in urban public - maybe it's ok for antique shows or something, but certainly not loaded.

Chris

No too sure about that. Even though many pilots are ex-military, and are well trained, I believe the SOP for hijackings was to do what the hijackers wanted and go land the plane asap. Killing the pilots was never a possible scenario. But it is now.

JoeA, you can probably shed some better light on this.

Man after my heart! Nothing like a .45 auto to get someone's attention, especially one that has been "massaged" by someone who knows what they are doing.

Kimber is my favourite and its accurate out of the box...

JoeA

Chris,
It is to my understanding ( haven't verified this) that you have to have 20 acres to shoot regularly. I have 5 acres and shoot only rattle snakes. And no you can not shoot within the city limits.

Each state has it's own laws regarding use. Then there are federal laws too. You really need to know ALL of these laws before you walk out the door with a hog leg in your pocket. There are many manditory sentence laws that the best lawyer in the world can't get you out of. Check this website for more info.

http://www.packing.org

and reaseach your area.

oh, that is one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. I can just imagine all flights being full of armed passengers. You'd have a plane a day going down because one of the passengers got pissed off because his rubber chicken was cold and decided to squeeze off a few to get the flight attendant's attention.

While I am much less anti-gun than I used to be, I still do not trust most people to be armed. They just don't have the ability to control themselves. Just look at some of the things people do with their cars while driving. They've already got a 3K lb projectile that they will gladly point at any pedestrian, motorcycle, or other car that gets in their way. Now they should have guns while traveling?

One thing to remember is that most flight crew, and all sky marshalls are some of the most tested, poked, prodded and inspected people in the world.

Flight crew take a extensive medical then do a weeks training ending up with passing a test and a checkride in either a simulator or the airplane every six months. Sky marshalls have much the same thing.

Add to that the fact that most of us are ex-military and had a security clearance up until the time we left (and many of us even after we left) so have been investigated for years.

JoeA

Joe, I have zero issue with a sky marshall or flight crew packing heat. But the original poster suggested that all the *passengers* be armed.

I like the Ed Brown Custom Classic...I don't own one yet, maybe Santa will be good to me....www.edbrown.com

No..U DON'T TRUST YOURSELF.... U fear what you might do, and project that unto others...

The issue is Control ...you try as you might to control yourself, but deep inside you have these wild feelings that you struggle with...

I for one own guns simply because I enjoy them. I love to shoot. I have been a very active competitor with the rifle most of my life, as well as a fairly accomplished hunter. I approach the whole gun ownership thing as a hobby, one that has held my interest where others have failed to do so. I enjoy all aspects of the hobby, including reloading my own ammunition, casting my own bullets, and occasionally even buidling a gun. Both of my boys received their first .22 rifles at the age of six and their first centerfires at the age of twelve. They have both always known where the guns are, and how to use any one of them that is in the house; there are several that are loaded. Handling guns for them is a second nature as it has always been for me. Guns have never held that "forbidden fruit" fascination for them, as they never did for me when I was a kid. They have always just been a part of life. No more evil or dangerous than many other things we deal with every day. They have always played a big role in my life, and in my family's lives; I could not imagine life without them. That is why I own guns.

To reiterate what was said earlier: Biggest reason for ownership is that it's a great equalizer. Not all who carry are strong, able bodied men.

Congratulations to all those who see their environment as a happy, utopian kind of place where gun ownership isn't necessary since everyone is "intelligent".

Wishing I had such an blind, overly optimistic view of the world, life sure would be easer. Tell me how you do it?

rjp

Live in a city/region/country where you're not gripped by fear, that's how.

Most definitely not everyone around here is "intelligent", regardless of how you may define that, but there's clearly no need for gun ownership for self defence reasons. I've lived in 4 cities now in Ontario and Quebec, both big and small, good and bad neighbourhoods, never have I felt the slightest need for any kind of weapon to defend myself, and I'm sure the vast majority of the population in these cities would agree with me.

I don't think I have an overly-optimistic view of the world, I'm most definitely not blind to crime rates, gangs, criminals, etc. and I most definitely don't live in a utopia of any kind. However I do live in a society without daily fear of crime.

I never understood the 1st person argument so often used here?

so you say so? I don't agree with you. Try life around some parts of Seattle.

I've been in situations where being armed has been an effective deterrent, and so have several members of my immediate family.

So explain to me, who's right?

I guarantee you your outlook will change the moment you get mugged or something happens to someone you know..

rjp

For those in support of gun control, I promise not to use mine in your defense. :)

Well, I can only speak to my own experiences. I was just answering your question of how one can live with the view that gun ownership is unnecessary.

If life around Seattle requires gun ownership for personal safety, then why would I ever want to try life there?

This isn't a question of who's right and who's wrong - I'm not saying you're wrong, and I'm not saying you shouldn't carry a gun. What I'm saying is that I prefer to live in an area where guns aren't necessary, and quite grateful that I'm able to do so. Personally, if guns became necessary for personal safety around here, I'd move in a heartbeat. I realize that may not be easy, due to jobs, family, etc. but my and my family's safety would take priority over work.

Perhaps my outlook would change if I or someone close were to be mugged. Again, I can only speak from personal experience. I don't know anyone who's been mugged, nor have I been mugged myself.

One thing, my family came from a place (PI) where the only form of self defense was weapons, guns, etc. To them, there was no law enforcement you go running to when you're threatened. You dealt with it, and you dealt with it right now with what you had.

Now here we are- in the States - there are laws, there is protection. But as my Dad puts it - a CWP holder , "once you've witnessed just how easy it is to get taken out for silly things, you'll always be ready."

rjp

I believe that some of the non-Americans who have contributed to this thread don't realize that in some cases, there isn't a choice of where one lives, which can have something to do with owning a gun. It's not like many people in The States can just pick up and move to the right side of the tracks.

There are places in the world where being armed is a an absolute necessity for survival, and still (some) people choose to inhabit these places for whatever reason, ie. because it's their home, to make $$, etc....

Nowhere in the U.S. falls into this category, strictly speaking, but my point is that most people in the world choose not to live in Canada. I don't want to live in Canada. I don't care if you can guarantee me that no one in my family will ever so much as have their ass pinched, you can keep the flipping place.

There are a variety of reasons why Canada, New Zealand and Australia don't have our murder rate, and gun ownership rights are only a small part of it. Michael Moore actually got that part right in BFC, oddly enough. But of course you guys know this. The freedoms that we enjoy in the U.S. come at a price, make no mistake about it.

I own a gun, but I hardly ever shoot anyone. And I live in the center city of L.A. and I'm not "living in the grip of fear, blah, blah, gurgle, snort...", or whatever the fuch you wankers imagine an American to be. Just stay home and you'll be safe, 'K ? ;)

Signed,

Angry, annoyed gun-owning pinko/redneck hybrid.