Its cultural you like having guns so you have them, this bill of rights to own a gun is nonsense.
There is no bills of rights to own big fat cars with 4x4 drive but you still have them because its exspected. (4X4 are for off road fact) (Guns are for shooting things and crimminals) not to uphold your rights its childish and immature to say that.
Just say I like guns
Like I have said on numerous occassions if I was a Yank I would lots of guns becaue I could, and a bit fat car.
You are not going to be "Minute Men" to defend yourselves from "THEM" who ever you are.
Can I come out of my bunker yet and have those stars gone yet? is the moon still there?
Zack, you seem to struggle with concepts...
The U.S. Constitution does not bestow rights on it's citizens. It defines what natural and inalienable rights shall be protected by the Government.
The right to self-defense is a natural right and therefore, an inalienable right. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld this as an individual's right.
The writers of the Constitution also recognized that the defense of the community and state could not be the sole domain of a standing army. The Army was very small. Thus, cities, towns and even small villages formed militias, consisting of local able-bodied men. Those men would supply their own weapons and a basic load of ammunition. Heavy weapons and additional ammunition, as well as all required supplies, would be furnished by the government (at what ever level the militia represented). The militia members would muster with their rifles, muskets, shotguns and side arms.
The need for militias largely disappeared (more so in the eastern USA) by the early 1900s, being replaced by police and sheriff departments at the local and state level, and the state National Guard. Nonetheless, every single day, armed citizens intervene in crime, and often assist the police when needed. In the years since the Constitution was ratified, firearm technology has evolved from single shot muzzle loaders, to breach loaders, to repeating rifles (bolt and lever actions) and finally semi-auto and full auto weapons. A modern militia would be armed with the latest technology and remain within the intent of the Constitution. Congress overstepped their authority and effectively banned automatic weapons. The current political climate does not support a repeal at this time, but there are suits being contemplated that may have the effect of overturning that ban (based upon recent court decisions). Still, it is very reasonable that modern semi-auto rifles meet the intent of the founders. In the event of a national, state or local emergency, there are plenty of men who could and would answer a call to assist the government. Unlike 200 years ago, there is no organized and sanctioned training. A mistake, in my opinion. I would like to see the government provide firearms training to anyone wanting it for free. The government cannot make that a requirement for ownership, but it could offer less regulation to those who complete the training and maintain qualification with semi-annual training and testing. There is much we can do to reduce accidents that we should do, although more people die in pools than are killed by accidental discharges of firearms.
Getting guns out of the hands of criminals is another, far more challenging problem that will never be truly resolved. Gun laws only work when people obey them, and the criminal, by definition, ignores laws.
