If your on this site you probably agree that the right to bare arms is a good thing and the founding fathers were correct to insure that right in the constitution. I believe this right is a good thing but for kicks lets stop and think how unique this in the world. I'm new to the sport, and the whole firearm thing in general. At my first gun show this weekend I was blown away by just what is out there for sale and how easy it is to acquire. As a browsed the tables of AK's and AR-15's it dawned on me how we are the most heavily armed nation in the history of man and our citizenry is an army onto itself. I think it is a good thing, our unique place in the world, but where is this right going? Why do we have all these guns? What are you collecting yours for? This is one of the last truly American traditions and I want to know what it is all about for you.
Recreation, and the possible (however unlikely) event there is a direct threat to our liberty and safety as individual citizens. It's less about directly engaging the Marines or an invading army and more about being able to protect my family and property in the event things fall apart.
We are definitely in the running for most heavily armed - however I have spent some time overseas and there are a couple of places that I would not want to live BECAUSE of how well the "populace" is equipped. I don't need to do battle with a 13 year old over the last cold Coke in the fridge, you know? I believe in the Second, but even if it wasn't there, I more firmly believe in my own willingness, and ability, to protect what is mine as opposed to relying on someone else to do it. JD
Guns are like potato chips, or a good plate of barbeque, or a woman: you just can't stop at one!!! Hopefully the right is heading towards universal acceptance of the true meaning of the Second: to protect ourselves and our political system from subversion by elements inside the government and attack from outside the country. Why are there so many? Different needs. Different answers to the same question. Why do I have what I have? Different needs. Different answers to the same question....
What's it all about for me? How about Hurricane Katrina? Or on of the many others, Andrew, Rita, Ivan.... The list goes on. Any time there is a natural disaster there's a reason. The police will be too busy to answer all the calls all the time. So who else is going to protect you & yours? (family & property) I am a fire fighter in south MS & let me tell you ALL the emergency services were over run with call for help. There were people coming into town from out of state just to loot! Those first few days after the storm, searching for missing people through the debris, taking care of the injured, police trying to control crime, traffic, & keep order. You were by yourself. Unless you were in cardiac arrest, drive yourself to the hospital. If you were getting shot at they would be there. But by the time they get there it could be too late. Would you want to take that chance? Not me. Don't forget New Orleans... A sherriff over there confiscated firearms over there & the law abiding COULDN'T protect themselves. Their looting was a lot worse than over here! That's reason enough for me right there! remember: if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Criminals don't get their guns legally, either. So that's what it's all about for me.
-firehammer You touch on a something that was a big factor in my getting into firearms. Katrina and many other events like it made me see how much we are on our own if the stuff hits the fan. I like the sporting aspects of it and find target shooting strangely relaxing, but I don't think anyone picks up a gun without thinking that some day they may have to be good with it. I hope that day never comes but its a large part of what led me here.
Well it may be an American tradition to collect firearms, but I have never seen so many carried firearms as while I was in Israel. I don't think they allow collecting, and and are not realy any huntable animals there, (the gazelle are a protected speacies, and the sheep and camels belong to sombody) but if you apply for a licence, and meet all the requirements, you can carry a fully automatic M-16. But there they really expect you to keep track of your gun. I think if one is stolen and the owner is found to have not tacken proper care to prevent this, he can go to jail.
Kestral For me,the knowledge that I have the means to protect my family & myself if the worst should ever happen,gives me a feeling of deep inner security.I can hold my head up high in the realisation that others can depend on me to do all thats humanly possible to defend them in case of need. I have the means of instant defense,in the time it would have taken for the authorities to respond,my family could be dead or seriously injured.It is my right & my duty to be that person.If people could be shown how to think defensively instead of aggressively, I think there would be thousands of training ranges all over the country, plus a good relationship with all like minded responsable people.Kestral
Well first of all i buy guns 1. to shoot them 2. to use them in my line of work. I think even if guns were outlawed then i would be and outlaw. I cant rember a time that i didnt own a gun. I think the reason there are so many differnt choices out there. Is so you can get the most bang for you buck. I personally own an ak and love the darn thing high ammo capacity is nice and it has a decent range so i wouldnt have to let the bad guys get to close. Also have hand guns shotguns and rifles. I like to have opitions. And with the second amendment i get that.
Well, I work for a firm with HQ in Switzerland. As far as "most heavily armed", well, depends on HOW you define that- Switzerland is a lot smaller than the US, but there every member of the Army Reserve has a full auto assualt rifle, or a submachinegun AND THE BASIC LOAD OF AMMO for it sitting in the closet. At home. Oh- nearly every adult male in the country is a member of the Army Reserve. Now THAT's heavy. As far as the number of guns- well, I probably have 25-30 .22 cal rifles- different makes, models, etc. But you can only shoot one at a time (unless you are Rambo, maybe) I also have Russian, German, Swiss, British, American, Italian, and Japanese military weapons. I collect because I enjoy shooting, don't hunt as much as I used to (knees), and want to have ability to defend self and family against folks that have no apreciation of rights of others. (Um..... right to property, right to walk, right to breathe, etc) Now, if I may- I have a question for you- If I am an honest, law abiding person- I don't mug little old ladies, rob banks, or shoot up post offices with ONE gun- why does my having MORE than one cause you concern? In a like nature, if you do not drive in a reckless manner, run over school kids, drive drunk, etc- should I be concerned if you suddenly decide to get an additional vehicle? Just wondering...........
have need want guns personal national Criminals, 2 or 4 legged food, civil defense, guns are just tools. I have a 9422Mag, it gives me pleasure. My dads 12 ga puts pheasants in my belly. some idolize guns, knives, cars etc. the person using the gun dictates what happens with the gun, not the gun by itself Rosie O is fat because of spoons! Outlaw the spoon? No she is a glutton, she dictates how much food she shoves down her gullet with the spoon. the spoon doesn't do anything wrong. the spoon is an object used by someone (matches=fires? same thing) a table saw cuts off fingers if you let it a gun shoots off fingers if you let it we live in a sinful fallen world, people do bad things because of this Will you protect your mom from a home invasion of a street gang with the phone,mace,pepper spray, numb chucks? when 4 bangers grab her in your living room? or a Ruger Ranch 223 with some extra clips loaded? Will you help local Police officer(s) who are outgunned or outnumbered, the police stand between Americans and serious trouble, (this is so forgotten these days by so many) southern Border Patrol anyone? I will help if need be. Responsiblilty for saftey and freedom is everyones who lives in a country. guns enforce laws by anyone willing to stand up to law breakers During WWII suppposedly Hitler asked his generals about Switzerland, they told him only at the cost of their army, because the(Swiss) whole country was an army? i hope this helps on your perspective, i love my mom, and my wife and my family members, and my friends, and my neighbors, and my fellow bloggers especially on this forum, and so on down the line etc. wrench striving to enter at the narrow gate
most of mine were passed down to me from years of being in the family. I have them because I like to shoot them it is relaxing to make small holes in paper or big holes in small animals. I live in a rather safe area crime is really low. I am alert at all times, but it is up there on the safe-o-meter. Do I think zombies are comming not really, do I think someone is going to invade the USA not really, do I think the government is going to turn on us and try to disarm us not really that being said i don't trust no one but family. My dad is not Barock Obama or John McCaine so I don't trust either one. I know I can protect mine if I have to. That is why I have them.
-c3shooter I wouldn't say it causes me concern. In fact I plan on buying a few more just as soon as my income allows. I believe a responsible but well armed citizenry can be a good thing for our county. Especially at a time when the government can be counted on less and less to ensure the basic safety of its citizens. This self-reliance, that I would call uniquely American, gains much of its strength from widespread gun ownership. At least in my humble opinion.. I think my intent with this thread is to start a conversation about the potential positives of our county being so well armed and what brought each of you to owning a firearm. After all, this right should be exercised in thought as well as ownership, right?
Well, there is a great quote, I believe someone has it in their signature here on the forum, by the Admiral who led the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor: Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto - “You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.” If you want to know what being one of the most heavily armed, not to mention motivated, nations is all about - ask someone who had designs on taking it from them. JD
Well, ya see, there's the problem. There are a pretty large number of Americans(?) who are blindingly embracing political and economic ideologies that will take this great nation from us; we're conquering ourselves. Not to hijack the thread, or anything, but a direct invasion would be much easier to deal with than a slow decline from within by nitwit citizens ignorant of history.
That's why you have to be prepared to stack bodies up like cordwood just inside the range of your rifle & outside your ranch. According to that book you got me reading, we are doomed in the breeding war anyways - so I'm going to concentrate on being the most well armed instead. LOL JD
The slow decline is indeed the problem more so than anything else. As I've said elsewhere, the fact that we have so many illegal aliens is a problem, but the main problem is that they come from non Anglo-Saxon cultures. Not that Anglo-Saxon culture is superior in a racist sort of way. I'm not talking Aryan pride or anything of that ilk, but that the Latin culture most of our illegals are from is not as open to individualism and self reliance that is the hallmark of American Civilization. Everything is family connected, as it were. It's what I call the Patron Culture. The people who are just plain folk have always attached themselves to a more powerful person. The powerful person has given them food, perhaps a place to live, has found them a job, maybe a wife, whatever the person wanted. But these things of course, had a price. The price was complete and total adherence to the needs and desires of the Patron. You are bound to support the Patron in his political and social ambitions. You gave your vote in return for the gifts the Patron bestowed. That is incompatible with America. More and more people coming here who are not conversant with American rights will soon vote them away on the whims of their Patrons. We already know the D party loves that idea. We are seeing the R party do the same thing. Our rights are more in danger from non assimilating people who will be given the right to vote and who don't understand why we enumerated those rights in the Constitution. They will do what their told to do by their Patrons and slowly we will see our country slip away because of ignorance and our culture becoming one accustomed to letting the elites have their way as long as they provide us with panem et circenses....
According to the news this morning, birth rates among whites in this country is below replacement levels, while birth rates among Hispanics is skyrocketing. There's nothing wrong with that at all, provided they embrace the American culture and English rather than import their third-world culture and speak Spanish. It sure seems the latter is happening a lot more than the former.
