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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.]
Filed under: Podcasts, North America
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
Brian Feb 2nd 2013 9:13PM
The leading cause of death during the 20th century was government-run genocide/democide. Self-defence is a very basic human right, whether it be against a wild animal or a tyranical government. If you think bad things that have happened in other places and times could never happen in America, then you either know nothing about history, or are just plain stupid.
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.
Alex Ebdrup Aug 31st 2011 11:49PM
It blows my mind how many numbnuts there are that don't understand. The people that use guns for crime won't stop using them if the law says not to. The people that are responsable with their guns are the ones that will use their firearms for self-defence against the person who breaks in or robs some place.
We know those kinds of people are screwed up in the head shouldn't be able to get guns. So we don't allow them to legally! They get them illegaly! America is not the one to blame for giving him the right to carry the gun, infact we discourage that kind of person for it and if they are caught it's taken from their possession and they get into se serious trouble.
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.
George Oct 26th 2007 2:40PM
Hey chinadian, If you don't want to own a gun, that's fine, but If someone breaks into your house with the intentions of killing your children and raping your wife, how will you protect them? Do you think that taking the guns away from law abiding citizens is the way to go? If that were to happen, the only guns would be in the hands of the criminals that don't care what the the law says. Sure, the cops will still be armed, but I'll bet that some thug could kill your family and you before the cops arrive. The gun control that I believe in is; Use two hands, educate your kids, keep your guns in a safe place, don't point at anything that you don't intend to shoot, and always watch your cross fire and backdrop. I won't be the one that brings a knife to a gun fight. 2nd ammendment forever!
George Oct 25th 2007 3:00PM
Amen Brenda!
Ken Oct 25th 2007 3:07PM
Amen Brenda and George. It is these little p.c. communist cowards that will destroy this country first from within, then from abroad
WinsomeLewsome Oct 25th 2007 3:16PM
People will carry guns if they feel there is a need for it. I don't feel the need, so I don't carry one. I thank God I live in a country where I feel safe, and I thank God for the right to carry a gun should I feel the need.
richiedpk Oct 25th 2007 3:20PM
I Love how this guy makes it sound like it's a Crime to be able to defend yourself.If You don't like guns then dont own them but don't tell the rest of America that they are wrong for choosing to have an option of not being a victim.Legal Gun sales are not made to people who have proved they shouldn't own them(Background Check),they are made to Citizens who cherish their lives and those of others they choose to defend.
Chinadian Oct 25th 2007 3:56PM
"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." sure sounds like a reasonable response to me. I'm not trying to say that I am right, but merely expressing an outside view. I have a lot of American friends and family, and they do not choose to own guns. Nor do I believe that all gun owning Americans are "rednecks" that shoot just for fun. Do you see what I mean by defensiveness when it comes to gun ownership issues? Nowhere in my post did I even mention the notion that Americans are "lawless".
In response to Ken, are you saying that guns=peace? You cannot compare the situation in America with those in Russia, Vietnam or China for that matter. The trouble with the gun ownership issue is that there are too many grey areas, and the fact that both supporters and non-supporters often use worst case scenarios to highlight their points.
S. Watts, I do live in a fee democratic society that has strict prohibitions regarding guns and the general public. We are not terrorized by gun toting criminals, and our crime rates are much lower than yours.
"Non democratic societies that have strict gun controls are not free and are governed by militarized police or armies with guns who are directed by a dictator." - So if the populace had guns, these societies would by democratic or more free? Having a gun or not is NOT the reason that these governments are in power.
"Democracys that allow the general populace the choice of owning guns are by "consensus" considered safer and freer places to live" - considered my who? Britain has the strictest gun control laws in the EU, are you telling me that they would consider the US a safer place to live?
I live in Alberta, and in my City gun ownership isn't prohibited, but the society as a whole does not support gun ownership. Yes there is crime and yes there are criminals with guns, but the instances and occurrences of these crimes are far less prevalent. Sure I agree that you should do everything that you can to protect your family, but do you seriously think that a gun toting criminal will be less inclined to act if they know that you have a gun in hand? It is more likely that both parties will resolve to firearms use and therefore not only will the likelihood of fatality be higher, but the likelihood of collateral damage is higher (stray hits, etc.).
I'm sure that some of you are well trained and well versed in using firearms, but can you say the same for the other gun owners out there? How can you know if a criminal is intent on hurting you or your family? How do you know if that person would of left you alone if you let them take your property? I'm not saying that you shouldn't protect your family against rapists and the like, but out of all the crimes in your country, how may of them are rapes/killers vs less violent acts that may have turned uglier due to collateral damage or failed deterrence?
My father owns a Jewelry store and was robbed at knife point by two people in January. He told them that they could take whatever they wanted and leave, and they were about to. In the end, a customer walked in and spooked the crooks, and both him and my father had to fight off the robbers. In this situation, the robbers were not intent of harming my dad, but resolved to violence when threatened. I much rather my father sustain cuts and bruises rather than a bullet.
And a response to Nick, "having a firearm doesn't mean you will use it to kill indiscriminately", and neither did I lean to that fact in my previous post. The fact of the matter is that if you are defending yourself with a gun, you will be shooting at the largest target available, torso or head. And in doing this self defense, you have shot a potentially fatal weapon indiscriminately at the opponent. Again, I know that some will have the skill to shoot at arms, legs, etc, but again, can you say that for the rest of the populace?
I think gun control is the way to go, reduce the source, reduce the risk, reduce the impact. But in America's situation, it would be difficult because gun ownership seems to be ingrained in the American psyche. I'm not saying that guns should be banned, but stricter rules, regulations, laws be put into place so that those of you who are actually responsible, are the only ones that can gain access to firearms. Looking from the outside as a non-American, it just seems way to easy to get a gun from anywhere in the US. I'm not criticizing your right to bear arms, I'm just trying to understand comments like, "I think the ownership of arms is not only a right, but the duty of a free people to themselves and future generation". It just seems to me that owning a firearm is no longer for protection, but rather because it's the "American" thing to do, hence my statement about using the Constitution as an excuse to have a gun. Do you all live in places so dangerous that a gun is a necessity?