The answer is yes, and it runs counter to popular perceptions of the United States as a country where most citizens are armed to the teeth and believe it is every American's inalienable right to buy an AK 47-style assault rifle with the minimum of bureaucratic paperwork.
But in fact, gun ownership in the United States has been declining steadily over more than three decades, relegating gun owners to minority status.
Maybe the gun culture is fading. It certainly isn't in my realm of friends and family. Everyone owns a weapon in my circle. I plan on teaching my friends children about weapons when the parents agree that they are old enough.
It's important as a society that we are armed. The US government needs to be afraid of an armed populace. It's what helps keep them in line.
But then you see all these pussy media outlets denounce law abiding gun owners and it effects the weak minded. After every shooting, everyone wants to debate the issue of Gun Control. They aren't getting to the root of the problem. We live in an open society, and as much as people don't want to hear it, you can't stop a nutjob from picking up a weapon and killing people indiscriminately. The only thing that usually puts an end to a rampage is the nutjob kills themselves, or an armed citizen puts them down like the animal they are.
But you don't hear much about cases like that. You only hear about Virginia Tech and Columbine. You don't hear about high school students who have a rifle in their car and stop a rampage. You don't hear about random people who come across a scene where someone's being hurt and they stop things from getting worse.
Gun Control advocates have a major hypocrisy problem. They want to restrict a Constitutional right from people, but will fight tooth and nail if you try to take away their right to Freedom of Speech. You cannot take away someone's Constitutional rights. If you want to take my right to own a weapon away from me, I should be able to take away a Constitutional right of my choosing away from you. Every US citizen enjoys these rights. If you choose not to own a weapon, that's fine, but don't encroach on my rights to own one. I'll even be nice enough to defend you with my weapon if you are in trouble.
Personally, I'm armed to the teeth. It's my Constitutional right to be. I own several weapons, including an AR-15, such as the one below:
I've only had to have it out in defense of my home once. It was a misunderstanding and I lowered my weapon once I found there was no threat to my home. However, I have the conviction to know when to fire and when not to in a stressful situation. You have to ask yourself: Am I willing to point a weapon at someone who's a threat to myself or a loved one and kill them? If you cannot, then you probably shouldn't own a weapon. That's just my professional opinion though. I am looking out for your best interests as if you hesitate to take down a threat, they may take the weapon and use it against you.
But you won't ever hear me say you CAN'T own a weapon, I will just say you should consider my advice when you make that choice.
Take a gun safety course. Talk to a gun dealer. Go to a gun show. Find out if it's something that you want to be involved in. Ask questions. There's no such thing as a "stupid question". If you don't know, ask. Gun owners are some of the most friendly folks you'll find out there, and they will gladly share their knowledge and experiences.
But if you try to tell them they can't own a weapon, they'll turn on you quicker then you can blink. This is their hobby, their religion, their way of life. It's a core value of Americans and they hold that right very near and dear to their hearts. I know I do. :)
What I don't understand is why liberals don't own more weapons. They claim that the United States is headed towards fascism more and more, but they don't see arming themselves to defend against a tyrannical government. I guess the old saying is true: Those that can, do. Those that cannot, complain.
"A shepherd must tend to his flock, and occasionally, fight off the wolves."
Travis
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