I think the more violent our society gets, the more good decent Americans feel they need to arm themselves legally. Take away our guns and only the good, decent law abiding people would be the ones affected.
The lawbreakers and rampage killers would still find a way to get their guns. Guns can be gotten illegally here as easily as illegal drugs. I cannot see any law changing that fact.
We are simply a violent society. I cannot say why that is the way of it, and I cannot say why it is getting worse, but there it is, it is a fact.
Those who are willing and able to defend their homes will never give up the right to do so, even if it means becoming as violent as the criminals. There really is no other way when you think about it, except to passively watch the thugs have their way with your loved ones or your property.
Regardless of the wording of the second amendment, and regardless of its original intent, the majority of Americans BELIEVE it simply means we have the right to own guns, and action by the government to chew slowly away at that idea is pretty much political suicide.
I'm all for the right to arm ourselves to defend home and family, but the so-called assault rifles are simply a poor choice for that. I also come from a background of rural America where hunting is a way of life passed down from generation to generation. Again, Assault rifles are a poor choice for that activity.
We know we don't need them to defend ourselves. We know the legal owners of them shoot them as a hobby. They don't hunt with them. (majority don't), they wouldn't or shouldn't use them as home defense. They shoot them because they are fun to shoot.
The pervailing thought by gun owners is, if we give up THIS small right now (say high capacity magazines), then the next thing you know they will be asking us to give up semi automatic guns.
If you make a concession, the thought is that eventually, little by little they take it all away.
And for the most part, I believe that to be true.
An honest question: If YOUR society was as violent as ours, would you have a different opinion about the gun ownership rights you gave up?
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