Why do Americans like guns so much?

I don't get it. I thought it was in the Constitution as a way of ensuring us Brits didn't reclaim what is rightfully ours? >_> Since there is no threat of that anymore and we pretty much suck your ****, I don't understand why people think the 2nd Amendment is so (*)(*)(*)(*) crucial to America's existence. Back then the world was a unstable place... The US had powerful enemies and somewhat of a small army compared to the superpowers of the time. It would have been beneficial to ensure every citizen could fight for the government in the event of an invasion, was that not the intention?

I have to wonder if the founding fathers new how pervasive gun culture had become as a direct result of the 2nd Amendment, whether they would support it now? Especially considering the types of firearms available at the time (one-shot muskets? ) compared to the lethal firepower that exists today. I feel the constitution is a wonderful thing, but also holds you back to some degree... simply because anything you want undoing or putting in there is frustratingly held hostage to the whim of 13 states (as seen with the Equal Rights Amendment, one freakin' state short!). But I digress... sometimes I hear that your 2nd Amendment functions to prevent federal tyranny, like if some "V for Vendetta"-style government came to power (honestly don't see how but let's pretend...), and started removing liberties. Well does the rest of the constitution not take care of that? This party who wants to impose tyranny would have to change the Constitution itself to give it unprecedented power, which would require it to control the full state governments (state-house/state-senate/governorship) of 38 states in order to push it through... Despite all the hysteria over Obama wanting a 3rd term and to become king I doubt this would ever happen.

In the UK we've banned nearly all types of firearms since the Dunblane School massacre happened in Scotland (rather similar ages and number of victims to Sandy Hook), except shotguns so long as they are licensed. We haven't had a school shooting since then. Obviously in the UK for many, many years the average risk of getting killed by gun violence has been significantly less than America. A similar ban probably wouldn't work in the same way due to our different cultures... but I think it has to start somewhere. I think 20, 30 years down the line and when more and more shootings occur there will be a concerted effort to repeal the 2nd Amendment and make that leap into true gun control and begin to change America's culture... a process that will take many more years after that. But I don't think the 2nd is there to stay.

Interestingly the current risk of being a victim of gun crime is 30 times less here in the UK.

 

What are the stats of being a victim of a crime without a gun?
Secondly, the business of why we like guns is our business not yours. If you dont understand it you dont have to. What you do in your country is up to you. We can have guns because we fought for the freedom to have them and will continue to do so until you guys without guns figure out how to take them away.

 

Because we also claim to believe in Capitalism.

 

Not my business... okay, not the answer I was looking for.

Anyone?

 

Governments have been known for tyrannical rule. Americans understand this and this is why they love guns. Also, Americans tend to love backpacking Brits when it comes to fighting in World Wars I guess...

Also, I don't know why you talk about school shootings as if the UK doesn't have any shootings at all. There was a shooting in Whitehaven in 2010.

 

Yes, but when was the last time the US was subject to tyrannical rule? Seems like a relic of the past to me. Western governments are probably stabler than they have ever been, regardless of the economic situation. To say otherwise is hyperbolic at best.

What I was saying was that surely the Constitution is crafted in such a way NOT dependent simply on the 2nd Amendment to ensure that a dictatorship cannot be established. Add to it the fact due to the strongly patriotic structure of the US military any attempts to establish tyranny would be met with a coup d'etat.

 

We're supposed to love guns so we can kill a bunch of politicians if they get too oppressive. I'm kind of leaning away from attacking the tyrannical govt with my .22 Ruger target pistol though. Somehow I don't think I'd represent much of a threat to the US military who would surely come down heavy handed against anyone shooting dickheaded politicians, regardless of their level of dickheadedness.

 

This is because you are trying to be highbrow about a culture and country you don't quite understand. How many laws have been created within the past decade where the Government can ignore the laws which limits their power and do whatever that's in their vested interests? The NDAA, SOPA, Enemy Expatriation Act, Patriot Act, Trespass Bill HR 347, ACTA, and a ton of other things. Any one of these things are the definition of tyranny.

Europe has riots all the time for one stupid reason or another, and they have very strict gun control. Seems people there would appreciate it than they think.

The military has a sworn duty to defend the constitution. How do you think liberty has been chipped away? By the very legislative process using the constitution that is suppose to protect everyone. Legislators undermine it. Judges don't enforce it. That's all the justification the Government needs. The military does not determine right and wrong. Yesterday's good will always be tomorrow's evil. They just follow orders.

 

Simple answer would be our history and culture. Most Americans also find eating a horse disgusting and it is illegal here to sale horse meat for domestic comsuption.

 

America is only about 10 generations from shedding the bonds of a tyrannical British crown. Free men with guns facilitated that.

Free men with guns will do their very best to ensure similar bonds never fully* return.

*(We're cutting it kinda close, fellas...jussayin)

 

The second is the reason we dont have tyrannical rule. No one would even think of tangling with millions of well armed citizens who are seriously pissed off and thats the way its going to stay for a good reason. People who willingly hand over their freedom dont deserve it because they dont understand it.

 

It is in the Constitution to protect a pre-existing natural right from the tyranny of government, any government, not just England.

No, it is not dependent simply on the right to bear arms. It is also dependent on the rights to free speech, due process of law, security in person and effects, etc...

 

That's because the military is made up of idiots unable to read the constitution and actually think the politicians that own their mine sniffing asses, gibbachit about them.

 

Bring it on.

They'd be immediately designated as terrorists with a shoot-to-kill policy attached. No question.

You could have 100 million pissed off gun owners but only a tiny fraction would be stupid and suicidal enough to have a go.

All of a sudden it seems there's this belief in socialism and communism! All standing together, united against the government! The people will join with us! The police and military, too!

Dream on.

In fact the likelihood would be the US crackdown on its own citizens would far more severe than elsewhere.

That you could ever exercise your 2nd amendment right to bear arms against the US govt. is pure fantasy.

- - - Updated - - -

Bring it on.

They'd be immediately designated as terrorists with a shoot-to-kill policy attached. No question.

You could have 100 million pissed off gun owners but only a tiny fraction would be stupid and suicidal enough to have a go.

All of a sudden it seems there's this belief in socialism and communism! All standing together, united against the government! The people will join with us! The police and military, too!

Dream on.

In fact the likelihood would be the US crackdown on its own citizens would far more severe than elsewhere.

That you could ever exercise your 2nd amendment right to bear arms against the US govt. is pure fantasy.

 

Stopped reading when I got to "back then the world was a unstable place"............ummmm, I believe we have had two world wars in the last century, countless genocides, seen government after government turn on its people, ect.

WTF are you talking about?

 

We are the first country in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD to proclaim the freedom of man. Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
We proclaimed we are not owned by a either a King, dictator, government or mystical spirit in the sky. We are free men.
We proclaimed that individual free men have unalienable rights that no authority could usurp.
The 2nd Amendment is the only right that grants free men the ability to maintain all rights of freedom.
Unless you've lived in such a society you cannot understand it.
Unless you have the courage to understand freedom is not safety from inequality you cannot appreciate it.
Freedom is not equality for all. Freedom is the ability to pursue life and happiness without shackles of a King, government or mystical spirit in the sky pleading for sacrificial offerings.

Yes, We as a country have forgotten these things. Some individuals still remember.

 

What are you guys talking about?

Posse Comitatus.

 

Probably has something to do with a lot of Americans like to appear tough.

The second amendment is there for weak minded people who need guns to feel powerful and in control.

 

It's because we have more straight guys per capita than Britain.

But really, it's pretty simple. We have a focus on the individual rights, not the collective. The rationale, though often flawed (mixed statistics), is that if we ban guns people (criminals) will still use them, but less often because it will be harder to get them (and easier to intimidate).

Let's pretend for a minute that it was always true w/o drawbacks. A national gun ban will reduce deaths due to guns. K, great. So let's just say there's a hypothetical 50% drop in deaths due to guns. From a collective concern, that's great! But from an individualistic concern, where does that put me? I'm less likely to be mugged with a gun, but if anyone does pull a gun on me, I am absolutely defenseless. If someone breaks into my house, I am absolutely defenseless. I'm unable to protect myself. I am trading essential liberty for the temporary feeling of security.

As far as defending ourselves from the government or a foreign invader, yeah, we've been good for a while. And? If you haven't had an insurance policy on your house but haven't had any issues in five years, would you drop the policy? If no one broke into your house for ten years, would you get rid of your home security system? It's a safeguard. That fact that it hasn't been needed for an extended period of time doesn't mean it never will be.

 

The risk of dying from a gun in America is pretty low compared to most other causes of death. You have a much greater chance of dying from a car accident here.

 

And the government is there for weak minded people who desire to be controlled. Your choice. Live or be allowed to live, maybe.

 

Yup, you got it in one. James Madison was just a weak minded control freak...yup...all the history books say so...

 

Not really. I don't own an arsenal. I don't even usually carry my piece.

And even if I didn't own a gun, I wouldn't have any desire to take away other people's guns.

- - - Updated - - -

Not really. I don't own an arsenal. I don't even usually carry my piece.

And even if I didn't own a gun, I wouldn't have any desire to take away other people's guns.

 

See right there. Those are the words of a man who has accepted freedom on his own terms. The emphasis being on HIS! Hard to write that stuff in a dictionary.

 

The US likes guns so much... Because as a fundamental promise outlined in its most central document, the Constitution, the US Government has promised that its people can carry muskets and flintlock pistols.

Or... Bearable arms as they called them back then. This has widely been interpreted to mean everything up to plasma rifles.

When the very central document of the US Government promises something, violation of it by Government even in the slightest is seen as a precedent enabling violation of all of the other rights as well.

As such... Gun bearing has become a sacred tenate in the US social identity.