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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 3 of 4)
Chinadian Oct 25th 2007 3:57PM
Oh, and Ken, just because I'm Chinese doesn't mean I'm communist. Let's keep the discussion on topic.
DENNIS Oct 31st 2007 9:48AM
All the coments and quotes you show don't show the other side of gun ownership. Sporting. Many people including me own guns for sporting reasons the main one and most popular I would think would be for hunting. This is not only a tradition but its how early Americans fed themselves. Not all guns are owned for protection (mine are locked away so they are not readily available).
LtCurry Oct 25th 2007 4:34PM
Takeo, you are highly mistaken, even in you're first sentace. We do not live in a Democratic society or Democracy. We live in a Republic. A group of United States that form the republic. A nation of men and laws, not of Gov and Laws to controll the men. Big difference.
Read the pledge of allegience and the constitution.
A Democracy is a Gov for controll of the people, not a gov. of the people, whe represent the people.
Chinadian Oct 25th 2007 4:41PM
Thank you for all the responses, I am still trying to understand where most of you guys stand on this issue and would like to see more reasons behind your positions, and I'm glad I was able to get some reasonable replies. I enjoy seeing what you guys have to say from your end of the continent, please continue to enlighten me. As for the flamers, feel free to keep laying the smack talk on me. I already know how you guys think.
Carolyn Oct 25th 2007 5:51PM
I'm an American woman that has absolutely no desire to own a gun. I'm a teacher in Los Angeles and have worked in some neighborhoods that a lot of people would be afraid to drive through. When I hear about all of the school shootings that occur in our country I am disgusted by the people that think the right to bear arms is more important than our children and their safety at school. What's the answer to that? Should all students and teachers have the right to bear arms at school? Fortunately, we don't or the situation surely would escalate.
Yes, I'm anti-gun, anti-war and very, very liberal. I'm also a salsa dancer that drives through "bad" neighborhoods every night on my way home from the clubs. I'm not afraid of these "bad" guys. I'm a teacher, I have a few of them in my classroom every year. I know what they're all about. They're just other people filled with fear and anger.
My advice: Look at the big picture. Don't live in fear. Surround yourself with positive people and great music. Say no to guns. Say no to war. Say yes to salsa dancing and thank your guardian angels because they can help you a lot more than your gun can!
Chinadian Oct 25th 2007 5:18PM
Nick, thanks for the reply. Good point on the gun control vs gun ownership as separate issues. One can easily lose sight of this fact. I did not know that Illinois had this law in place.
What do you guys think about Gun control then? It seems obvious that most of you guys are for gun ownership, what are your positions on gun control? And how strict is the current situation?
Eva Oct 25th 2007 5:25PM
Chinadian - I don't know that our gun ownership levels or gun crime levels are much lower here in Canada. Certainly Michael Moore fudged the numbers big-time in Bowling for Columbine (as I recall, the number of guns in Canada was, yes, much lower - but corresponded almost exactly to our lower population, the guns-to-people ratio was the same) and Toronto at least has gun-homicide rates to rival some fairly tough US cities. Last year it was worse than NYC, though not as bad as Baltimore or DC.
Anyway, I agree with you and Nick Hawkins about gun ownership vs. gun control. Nick, I doubt it's as easy as buying a slurpee, but the Virginia Tech massacre showed that it could still use some tightening.
Karen Oct 25th 2007 9:56PM
I just do not understand how anyone could think that making guns illegal would deter CRIMINALS ( be definition - people who BREAK LAWS ) from using guns?
Our children are of the age that we are teaching them to safely handle guns. They are taught how to use, store, clean, etc.
One of the rules is do not point a gun at someone unless you intend to shoot to kill. Pointing a gun at someone is very serious. But if you need to do so - shoot to kill. Personally, I find it reasonable to shoot (lethally) people that threaten my personal property as well as my physical being. Either way, I'm going to assume that if they are willing to commit a burglary that they are willing to commit murder. Look at how your father's robbers reacted when startled. I can't take the chance that a drugged out robber isn't spooked by the cat.
But the most offensive part of these responses is the person who said we use the constitution as an "excuse." How dare you?
If I thought the government was trying to take guns away from law abiding citizens, I'd stockpile them ILLEGALLY so that I stayed on even ground with the other criminals.
KDA Oct 25th 2007 11:57PM
Abha - I have quite a list of comments for you on this topic, not the least of which is how you can be so ill informed about law in the US!!!
The 2nd Amendment is not there for sporting purposes or self defense against a criminal breaking into your home or business.
The Right (not privilage) to Keep and Bear Arms is there for one and only one reasons - to provide a last ditch barrier to hold back and prevent a repressive gonvernment from exceeding its Constitutional authority. Period. End of Topic.
For all you non-history types out there - try this list
Ottoman Turkey 1915 to 1917- 1.5 million civilains dead
Soviet Union 1929 to 1945 - 20 million plus civilains dead
Nazi Germany
& Occupied Europe - 1933 to 1945 - 20 million plus civilains dead
Mainland China 1927 to 1966 - up to 45 million civilains dead
Guatemala 1960-1981 over 200,000 native mayans & indians dead
Uganda 1971-1979 over 300,000 civilians dead
Cambodia 1975-1979 over 2 million dead
Rwanda 1994 over 800,000 dead
The only common thread in these items are governments that wanted and un-armed populace and got it.
You may say - "That wouldn't ever happen in America"
and that is the only thing I'll agree with you on..... As long as the People of these United States keep and bear arms.
Tyler Oct 26th 2007 4:45AM
I come here to read about travel, not politics. Post accordingly.
kath Oct 26th 2007 8:55AM
I'm noticing that this site is becoming increasingly political as time goes on. What's up with that? I thought this was a travel site.
I also agree with Brenda, George, and Winsomelewsome, whose comments were all presented much more adequately than mine would have.
George Oct 26th 2007 3:10PM
Oops, I didn't mean to post the first one again, However, in response to some of the new opinons, I have some other thoughts. Anyone caught trying to gain access to my house unlawfully is a criminal. I would also guess that if someone is willing to take on my dogs to gain access, chances are, they are not there to see if they can take me to lunch. Due to the circumstances under which this country was founded, guns will always be here. It is way to late in the game to say, "We have to take your guns now". At this point in time I think it would be better to encourage LAWFUL gun ownership, and gun education to our children. These little punks that get scared and pick up a gun to seek revenge are everywhere. Do you think it would be so bad if they were taught gun safety as children? Another problem that I see is the fact that most American schools these days highly frown on fighting. I think that is a mistake, because when kids fist-fight, at least it get the anger out, and they both live. There has to be a vent somewhere. It's pretty common these days to see anger boil over and turn into a shooting spree. In the days when people had a beef and duked it out, was there as much gun violence? Education, and making kids understand what guns are capable of, before it's too late is a better answer that taking away an American right.
jessie Oct 27th 2007 7:10AM
At the onset of WW11 the japeneese were thinking of attacking the us mainland and during one of their battle plan meetings one of their leading generals Tojo i think said it would be foolish to attack the us mainland because in america there is a gun behind every tree.....NUFF SAID
jessie Oct 27th 2007 7:34AM
And by the way i live in VA.and have a carry permit and own a shot gun and 2 hand guns a big one at home and a derringer i always have in my pocket. will i be a victem? maybe but i wont be an easy one.you want my wallet at the atm fine i will give it to you but you may also get something else, its not about the right to own a hand gun its about the right to protect myself and whats mine ,about deadly force if you confront me with a gun,knife, ball bat , then you should expect deadly force in return I wont wait to see what you intend to do ,remember he who hesitate's is lost
john Oct 27th 2007 10:33AM
For the most logical, well thought out, commentary on gun control and why the second amendment is so important please click on this link. This man says it much better than any I've ever read. http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/Snyder/cowards.html
Bob Harrison Nov 7th 2007 10:05AM
Hitler, Stalin & Mao where all for gun control, also!
Politician's perfer unarmed peasants!
When you give up your right to arm yourself, you give up all control!
If they still taught history, you might understand this.
Your ancestors left their previuos counrty to come to this counrty for their freedoms, including gun ownership. If you want to live in a counrty without LEGAL gun ownership move to China, and see what other rights you lose.
NYC_Patriot Oct 27th 2007 2:56PM
If you know your american history, the British confiscated all arms of the colonialists so they could not fight back when the Brits would collect taxes. After the revolution, the founding fathers insisted never to have citizens at the mercy of their government, which is why the 2nd ammendment allows guns to be legal. They're meant as a deterrent against the government. People in late 18th and early 19th century were not the same they are today. Culture, media, politics, have transformed society to a less responsible people. Congress should act to reform these perils, and leave guns alone....And im a liberal democrat from NYC !
Bill Oct 28th 2007 10:58AM
I own guns because I enjoy hunting & going to the range for target practice. And read the news. Criminals use guns to rob and kill all the time. What are we suppossed to do? Just lay over & play dead? I would have no problem in shooting a burglar if he broke in my house. And I will shoot to kill as taught by the concealed handgun instructors.
matthew Oct 28th 2007 1:39PM
Humans are killers history has proven that.There will always be killing and death taking away guns wont ever stop that.Btw i hate stupid people Goodness gracious me.
Jack Aho Oct 28th 2007 4:14PM
When guns are covered as in this piece, irregardless of the opening words and music, it's always by a liberal and anti-gun perspective. Kyle said he wouldn't or didn't take editorial license with his piece - I didn't see anyone of the cut of a Lou Dobbs (his wife was arrested some time ago carrying a loaded 25-cal handgun), and does Kyle want us to believe that he had more than one person who put a bandana mask on and held a longgun for his picture, how about Kyle's misrepresentation (not a mistake) of call a Uzi semi-auto rife a "machine gun" that's even a darker usual anti-gunner term than "assault rifle", and when Kyle included every box of ammo in the owners gun-vault was that a subtle message? Yeah Kyle your the usual anti-gun guy on your usual mission. Your a guy who parties with Washington staffers and can't figure out why a liberal US Congressman would carry a concealed firearm (without a permit) in DC, or why all the good guys like Lou Dobbs types and their wives would carry a handgun. Or why Florida's recent citizen rights gun-laws and extremely serious crime-fighting penalties for criminal use of a firearm have dramatically reduced it's crime rates - all predicted by the anti-gunners hypes as turning Florida into the wild west. No you weren't interested in finding our - you wanted to tell your story with your motives. Like the Chinadian - who sounds like an honest well intended guy, you could have begun with the real world of violence in our schools and streets. Canada and England both are well along, despite what's been said, with their defenseless citizens (and in England - police officers) bearing more and more violence and mayhem. I would suggest people who really want unbiased facts try three easily reached sources: 1/ the Federalist Papers which preceed and will give you the facts and purpose that caaused our forefathers to write and pass our Constitution's Second Ammendment (notice it was that apparent it wasn't 10th or 12th, etc.); the 2nd source would be the US criminal justice data bases which have 30 years or more of good credible data, as to violent assaults and homicides in residental properties - you can develop simple summaries from endless perspecives - and get an understanding of what our citizens know they face every day basically because we have increased our cutural correct needs far past the public safety or courts and hotel-like hi-return penal systems can no loner provide, and; 3rd spend $35.00, join the NRA, and read the NRA's American Rifle Man monthly magazine's Armed Citizen column - a few factual occasions where citizens did not become another number in our criminal wounded or killed statistic. as some knowledgeable writer made note at the beginning of this series of anti-gun pieces: "oh my goodness!" Hey Chinadian - confirm that you are a stand up guy that just wants to "know - go get the factual data I've referenced. Thanks for reading what began as only a few comments.