Americans are viewed around the world as (651)

But that is the thing, if someone is bold enough to break into your property, not knowing if they will face you or not, and knowing that if they do face you and get identified and arrested for doing it, they will go to prison..... Then who knows what they might feel they have to do to not get caught??

I would not kill someone to protect property... but if someone illegally enters my home, then anything can happen and you could easily find yourself defending your life and health.

So..... that is the way I look at it and am thankful to have the constitutional right to protect myself if necessary.

There are a number of other considerations that play into the Right to Bear Arms, such as keeping our government "by the people and for the people", and other additional considerations.

If a person is trained and knowledgeable about firearms, there is nothing to fear about them. I think some of the illogical hysteria that is driving gun control originates from people who are just afraid of them because they are not knowledgeable about them.

They certainly can be dangerous in the hands of people who are not trained in the safe and proper use. But with training and education, there is nothing to fear about them. Just have to be safe and use your head with firearms.

But I realize that is a lot to ask sometimes.

See i like how you comment on post

Some people get down right mean..

if they would only read i was only f....g joking

Sorry K M D, that I came across too strong. I apologize.

I did not know you were joking. I have debated this topic too many times in the past and had too many people throw false statements out as fact, in an effort (I guess) to spin or sway the debate.

I just want to argue the truth of the facts, not feelings, emotions, or fears. The 2nd amendment is and has been under attack in this country for a long long time, and it is a sore point.

As you can tell, I personally think it is a big thing that the citizens of the United States have the right to own firearms, and I have this belief for numerous reasons. Despite what the rest of world thinks or feels.

If an American does not want a gun in their house, fine with me. But why should they decide I cannot have a firearm in mine??

Its okay..i have nothing against anyone who wants guns

I just dont like them as you have read in the past..

I just get upset when i say i dont like them and people go and jump on me

I dont jump on anyone who like/have/wants them..that is them

I can confirm that..

lots of guns about even in Stockport I've come home at 1 in the morning to see someone walking down the street outside my house carrying one .. and when I lived in a flat I often saw then in their back gardens showing them off to their mates..

shootings tend to be part of the gang culture but sometimes innocent folk get shot usually when they have been mistaken for someone else..

when I lived on the other side of the valley the corner shop next to my house was frequently the target of armed robbers and I worried that my children would get hurt walking past at the wrong time..

The issue of gun ownership/availability is a topic unto itself and certainly not one easily resolved here or anywhere else. Particularly,and this is not a slur,when Americans are involved in the debate.The right to bear arms is in your constitution and your history as well.I acknowledge that.But I strongly suspect that your founding fathers would be shocked at the misuse of that amendment and the proliferation of firearms in America today.The gun related statistics alone are staggering and bear witness to the violence,death and crime that those precious firearms produce.As an intelligent man,I'm sure you can see the folly in all this.Protecting yourself and your loved ones is one thing but supporting the..and let's be honest...the easy availability of guns is another.What do we see in the future?Perhaps guns will be given away as prizes in cereal boxes,with an accompanying document you would have to sign promising not to use the weapon irresponsibly.Yes,I'm being sarcastic.But let's not forget,it's a lot easier to kill someone if you have that gun in your hand,other weapons notwithstanding.And remember,bullets are never subject to recall or return if after pulling the trigger you have a change of heart.Guns must be controlled.

Hard to know what the founding fathers would think/say regarding the firearms issue today. I think they expected the proliferation... essentially a weapon in every home.... but I don't think they expected the fire power that can be available today. And I tend to think they would be surprised at the crime issue today.... since in their time, a scoundrel's poor choices came back to haunt him pretty quick. Today, a person can live a lifetime of poor choices and not face the consequences of his decisions. In other words, frontier justice was swift and the problem was solved.

So, in your words, "the crime those firearms produce" is ironically, one of the prime reasons people should have available to them firearms for defense. Even out the balance.

And you know it's true that when firearms are outlawed, it is the criminals who will have them. Anywhere in the world, that firearms are controlled, there is the element that will smuggle them in, sell them on a black market, and arm the bad guys.

So, I tend to view it like ' war on drugs'....which has been a 30 + year effort and spectacular failure. I say don't try to eliminate illegal drugs... On the contrary, legalize them, tax them, regulate them, and let those who freely choose to take drugs take them. (And they will suffer the consequences, but that is what comes with freedom of choice.)

Switzerland has a law, that since they have no standing military, every household has a rifle. The government arms the population. And they have very little crime.

Regulations on firearms in the US are significant already: you cannot be a convicted criminal, you cannot have a history of mental illness, alcoholism or drug addiction, and there are limitations on the type of gun and ammunition you can purchase. Various cities and counties pose further regulations, some of which are currently being contested before the US Supreme court.

I really believe in a contrary approach to crime though: Every home in the US should be encouraged and trained to have a weapon. I believe the result would be a lot less crime. A significant number of criminals would disappear due to their occupational hazard, and the rest might conclude it is easier to work for some money instead of attempting to steal it and incur a gunshot wound.

The police would have many law abiding citizens to assist them in protecting people and keeping the peace.

And I think the Founding Fathers could give this their blessing because it encourages individual accountability and responsibility, tends towards justice and rule of law, and over time, helps insure a government 'by the people and for the people'. It also tends away from the government 'Nanny state', where the citizens rely on the government to do everything for them.

It is practical and affordable, despite sounding radical, and I realize it would take time to implement.

But eliminating firearms is not the solution. There are too many risks, and the solution does not work.

Just my opinion.