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Why do Americans want to own guns?
I remain baffled by how it's legal to own a gun in the United States. I think even the option of having one is like saying it's OK to kill if you have a good reason. According to a recent piece in Newsweek there are 215 million guns in America -- i.e. more than half the households across the country own one.
This statistic triggered photographer and author of "Armed America" Kyle Cassidy to travel 15,000 miles across the country to ask people who own guns "why do own a gun?", and take portraits of them in their homes.
Some of the reasons were just beyond my comprehension:
- "My shotgun will take care of any intruder, and I know how to use it."
- "I own a shotgun for the same reason I own a fire extinguisher."
- "Gun ownership is a right and privilege, everyone should exercise it. I think everyone should have one, on the range, on the playing field, in the world."
- "It's not the guns that kill, it's the people."
- "I have nothing against guns, I think they are cool and I love that we have them in the house. My friends are very impressed by the collection we have."
- "It's up to us as citizens to protect ourselves, our family and property. Our constitution provides us with the right and method by which to achieve that objective, and I simply choose to exercise that right."
- "I think the ownership of arms is not only a right, but the duty of a free people to themselves and future generation."
[Full podcast here.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Sherm Feb 18th 2008 5:57PM
That kind of faulty logic and pseudo-intellectual presentation the author of this article uses irritates me to the nth degree. A person shouldn't be required to justify his right to self-protection, one of the most basic of human rights. That isn't given by a government and a government shouldn't be allowed to take it away. There's far too much idiotic legislation being fabricated by the government anyway without directly attacking the Bill of Rights.
will sterling Jun 22nd 2008 9:28PM
A gun can be used for sport (target shooting, trap, skeet). A gun can be used to hunt and feed one's family. A gun can be used to defend oneself and one's family. None of these acts should be illegal.
Nearly every male Swiss citizen owns a fully automatic assault rifle. If guns are so bad, you'd think Switzerland would be a very violent place full of murderers. Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of gun ownership in the world. Which country would you rather visit? Where would you feel safer?
People who don't like guns tend to have two flaws: First, they're wusses who are scared of dangerous things that go boom. Grow a pair. Any adult male that doesn't find some modest pleasure in shooting, should spend their day making tea parties for their dollies, and stop annoying the rest of us.
Secondly, they have an enormous confidence in the government to protect them, always be there, always do the right thing, and never overstep their authority. These people are happy to be wards of the nanny state that dictates what everybody can and cannot do. That is their perogative, but I do not share their blind faith.
sean Aug 12th 2008 11:39AM
Why not ban horses then? After all, people are injured and even killed while riding horses. They are not useful for anything in this modern age, so lets get rid of all of them. You enjoy them you say?? well, i feel the same way about my guns. I have owned guns since i was 12, and have never killed a person with one of them, outside of military service. I dont fear anyone breaking in, nor do i feel i need to carry it everywhere i go, however, it is my right to do so. A man who cannot protect himself, is a target, and a slave. When you i say i need no protection for evil, i say, you have no reason to fear my gun.
Randall Dec 19th 2008 12:14PM
This is going to sound odd but the problem in the US is that every single person does not own a gun. LoL thats right. I grew up in a town in Texas. I distinctly remember the first time I met a person that did not own a gun. I was 15. Gasp! Strangely enough there was not one armed robbery or murder the entire time that I lived there and I have not heard of one since I have left. Everyone is polite to each other. Neighbors help each other and things are quite. There was theft but theft is the second oldest profession. I moved to New Mexico and even I was shocked. People not only owned guns but where I was they still wear them on their hip. Criminal activity was absolutely 0%. They had one punishment since there was no law enforcement any closer than an hour away. They were the best people I have ever met in my life, happy and hard working. This is not complete by any means but in short yes violent crime is high here because the assailants know they have a good chance in getting away with the crime. So fellow Americans, don't get a sissy concealed permit. Strap a .45 to your hip for all to see for the sake of peace.
That should get things stirred up.
Jerry Oct 28th 2009 10:38PM
I agree! A gun is a means of protection and a symbol of power that gave us our country in the first place. What ever happened to the American spirit? This country is full of a bunch of mindless cowards that are too comfortable in their pointless lives to stand, or to even die for anything. The people have lost ownership slowly over time, right under our nose. History has proven that times change and the unpredicted always occurs. Times always change and so do laws. To say that it should be illegal to own guns is an naive way of saying that we will always be safe, protected, and that our current situation will never change. If the argument is that guns are fatal, then what about knives, bows, tire irons, baseball bats, hamers, or even our bare hands. The fact is that the weapon doesn't chose to kill. Besides, I've never seen a gun sentenced to prison for murder.
Kaiser Jan 4th 2009 2:38AM
Imposing limitations on inanimate objects is control freak thinking.Automobiles kill many times more humans in Europe and North America and are no more necessary than gun but it is the fear of intent that makes the lesser threat more present in the minds of homophobes.
You don't need a gun,that's what policement are for!
You don't need a car,that's what trains and buses are for.
Seriously in the great scheme of things I as a modern tool using biped think that I can do a better and more importantly more timely job of protecting myself or conveying myself than a Policeman or Bus Driver and I choose to do so.
If you do choose to be not be responsible for your own safety then good luck to you,if you have your skull caved in by a band of hooligans or miss life changing opportunities waiting for the bus it's probably natural selection at work anyway,LOL
Kaiser Jan 4th 2009 3:32AM
Gee the spell checker must be broken,LOL
"Homophobes" is supposed to read Hoplophobes
"Policement" is supposed to read Policemen
"If you do choose to be not be responsible" is supposed to read If you choose to not be responsible"
Nick Hawkins Oct 25th 2007 11:30AM
Interesting that you should be baffled by this.
Takeo Oct 25th 2007 7:24PM
We live in a democratic society, and the BASIS of democractic societies is that ordinary people are to be trusted with power. That's is the major difference between totalitarian dictatorships, kingdoms etc and us. We give people the power to choose their leaders (nominally), take their own lives and other people's lives into their hands by giving them driver's licenses.
Along with the powers that I mentioned above we recognize the right of people to defend themselves, their families and their property using deadly force if necessary. This way the government is not the only entity in American life that has a monopoly on violence. It is this lack of monopoly that gives crazy governments pause when dealing abusively with their citizens, or gives other citizens pause when considering a victimization of other citizens.
If you can't understand these facts, fine, but don't cram your ideas down our throat. The individual right to own, operate and maintain weapons is a completely American tradition.
Robobagins Oct 25th 2007 11:52AM
Americans want to own guns? SHOCKING. Stop the presses.
How about something about other gun toting societies, like the middle east, where they're fired off into the air during significant events, even weddings.
HOWARD SMITH Oct 25th 2007 11:57AM
A MAN WITHOUT A GUN IS A SLAVE
A MAN WITH A GUN IS A FREE MAN
Karl Kategianes Oct 25th 2007 12:03PM
What does this have to do with travel/tourism?
I agree with the above comments.
Karen Oct 25th 2007 12:03PM
What is it that you don't understand?
Eva Oct 25th 2007 12:24PM
"I think even the option of having one is like saying it's OK to kill if you have a good reason."
This isn't a fair assumption at all. Handguns are one thing, they are meant for use on humans. But shotguns? Hunting rifles? You can't really expect people to get rid of them in parts of the world where there are large, deadly mammals (bears, moose, cougars...) wandering around. No doubt you'll think I'm exaggerating but people in Western Canada die in cougar and grizzly attacks every year.
This photographer has evidently decided to highlight the most stereotypical, incendiary responses received. Plenty of "normal" non-homicidal people own guns for reasons that are more about practicality than paranoia or flag-waving.
Todd Oct 25th 2007 11:22PM
I own several firearms - handguns, rifles, shotguns. I am retired military and take great satisfaction in putting rounds down range accurately. Whether from a pistol at twenty five meters or a rifle at 300 meters, it takes great skill, and gives many of us enjoyment, to put little holes in paper precisely where we want them. I don't hunt (though I have no issue with those who do) but enjoy target shooting, as do the other members of my family. My wife and I both have concealed carry permits and exercise that right. Neither of us would hesitate to use our firearm to protect ourself or our children. You do whatever it takes to preserve life. Anyone unwilling to be responsible for their own safety should realize that they have only themselves to blame if they become a victim. My wife and I are both medical professionals with post grad degrees, not stereotypical, poorly educated rednecks. Our children are safe around firearms because there is no "forbidden" mystique associated with them. With my direct supervision they learn to handle, load and fire them safely. They also know not to touch a "found" firearm but to report it immediately to a responsible adult.
If we outlaw firearrms because of their association with violence then we should also plan on outlawing sharp knives, ball bats, golf clubs and motor vehicles, as well as video games, many music CDs, TV programs and movies.
Chinadian Oct 25th 2007 2:06PM
Owning a gun is kin to exercising the right to kill. You can protect your family/property etc without them, and also in a non-fatal way. Sure there are other gun toting societies out there but I don't believe that it's fundamentally written in their laws, or the controlling body is unable to stop gun possession. I see Americans use the constitution as an excuse to own a gun, but I don't believe your forefathers socio-economic situation way back when, is relevant to today's society. While it's true that guns don't kill people, people do, the same can be said that drugs don't kill people, people do. The fundamental issue is that the excuse is available and unfortunately, an easy out for people who abuse this "right". I don't mean to offend Americans with my statement, but it seems that the majority of responders are quicker to defend having gun possession, over looking at the bigger picture. I not owning guns reduces violent crime, does that not outweigh the right to own firearms? Owning a firearm only furthers the mentality of mutual deterrence, and does not foster more peaceful means. It's a false sense of security.
kyle cassidy Oct 25th 2007 3:57PM
Thanks for blogging about my book -- I invite everyone to visit http://www.armedamerica.org to see more photographs and also, if you're curious, to watch the "making of" video which you can see on youtube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOAJgtHSo8E
kyle
--
http://www.kylecassidy.com
Brenda Oct 25th 2007 2:51PM
When someone breaks into a home during the day, they are taking the chance that someone might be home. When someone breaks into a home at night, they are counting on the fact that people are home, and that intruder is prepared and intending to harm. I have 3 children and grew up in a home where hunting and target practice were the norm, and I am proud of that. My father taught me to handle a gun in protection of myself and my siblings if someone broke into our home and would not leave when threatened. I live in the country and if someone breaks into my home in the middle of the night, they are not going to have a half hour or so to do what they want before the police arrive. They have 5 seconds to turn around and get the hell out, or I will blow a hole in them the size of an elephant. I will protect myself and my family, and the right to bear arms enables me to do this. The crime committed in this situation would be the intruder entering my home with the intent to harm my family, not me defending my family with a weapon.
How would you puport that Americans protect themselves and their families? We are not a country who stands by and lets people hurt and take advantage of them. We are free to protect ourselves, as the whole world should be.
Ken Oct 25th 2007 2:51PM
Looked what happened in Russia under the Communist Stalin- guns seized from the people and over 100 million dead either via direct political murders or forced labor and starvation. China- weapons seized by Mao and the other Communists- over 120 million dead for the same reasons. I can go on: Vietnam, Cambodia,Cuba, etc. Guns seized from populace and people die. Look for a great documentary called "Innocents Betrayed" that details all of this very thoroughly. The people should not fear the government, the government should fear the people and therefore behave themselves. Our forefathers had the foresight and wisdom to understand this and give us the 2nd Amendment to our great constitution. Now, if we could only find leaders, instead of politicians to take us back to those values.
S Watts Oct 25th 2007 2:55PM
Historically speaking....free democratic societies that have strict prohibitions regarding guns and the general public. Have unarmed lawabiding citizens that are terrorized by criminals that do have guns.
Non democratic societies that have strict gun controls are not free and are governed by militarized police or armys with guns who are directed by a dictator.
Democracys that allow the general populice the chioce of owning guns are by "concensus" considered safer and freer places to live. If you live in America and you don't like the gun laws here....go live or visit another country in one of the other categorys I mentioned above.