In Defense of Owning a Gun

Amendment II
“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

The above statement pretty much ends the debate for reasonable people. We, as human beings, have the right to defend our lives from any and all dangers. More than that we have the right to defend our way of life from those who may try to destroy it. The founding fathers knew this so they made sure to put in writing that the people were not only allowed to protect their lives and freedoms but that they also have the responsibility to do so. One of the best ways to defend one’s right to exist is the gun. A simple tool that has the ability to stop aggressors in their tracks. It matters not if that aggressor is a person or an animal.

When guns are viewed as the tools that they are it’s quite easy to understand the right to own one. If you want to dig a hole you buy a shovel. If you want to build a home you buy a hammer. If you want to defend your life you buy a gun. It’s quite simple to grasp. Guns are not any more dangerous than any other tool when placed in the hands of reasonable people and millions of reasonable gun owners should not ever be held responsible for the actions of a few unreasonable people who use guns to harm innocents any more than those who own hammers should be held responsible for the actions of those who use a hammer to harm or kill someone. It’s not the fault of the tool when it’s used improperly or illegally.

There is also the right to choose so this means that if a person wishes to choose another tool, or none at all, to defend their right to exist they are entitled to that choice for themselves. Everyone should have the right to decide how best to defend their own life. More than the “right” to own a gun there is a responsibility aspect that needs to be considered. Not every living creature is equal in its strengths and abilities. The gun equals these inequities and levels the playing field when it comes to survival. When a man faces a bear in a life and death situation a gun levels the playing field and the man is more likely to walk away alive. The same can be said about criminals. When a criminal decides they are going to attack an innocent man, woman or child a gun in the hands of the potential victim changes things. Every person bears the personal responsibility to defend their own life since reality dictates that we are our own ‘first responder’ in dangerous situations. While it may be a nice fantasy to have a police officer in every home at all times to defend us against the evils of the world it’s not realistic therefore we are the ones who need to be prepared for any and all possible situations.

Guns are also used for reasons other than self-defense. Many people use them to defend their property such as livestock and other farm animals. If you choose to own animals you also have the responsibility to defend the lives of those animals from harm and a gun makes this easy to do. Other people own guns for the purpose of feeding themselves. Hunting is not just a hobby buy a way of life for millions of people. Guns make it easier to gather food for those who choose to feed themselves this way.

Guns are a fact of life around the world even in countries where they are outlawed. There is nothing that can ever or will ever be done to eradicate the world of guns so the best way to counter a criminal with a gun is to have one yourself. If guns are scary to you then the best way to get over that fear is to learn to use it correctly, safely and legally. Once you gain the self-confidence to own and use a gun properly you’ll see that they are nothing more than a tool one keeps on hand until needed.

In all the debates over gun ownership remember that there is no reason to ever demand that human beingsstop defending themselves, feeding themselves or protecting themselves because some among us disagree with the manner in which they choose to do so….The right to life trumps all other arguments!