I got in a conversation with LondonGirl on another hub that prompted this one. Questions and misconceptions about the gun debate have cause a great deal of trouble that is based on bad information.

The second amendment is an individual right. “the people“ and “The right of the people” is mentioned many times throughout the constitution and amendments. In every case it is recognized to be an individual right. While a number of people have tried to insist this refers to the right of militias, like the national guard, when mentioned here their arguments don’t hold up. The fact is that the courts have concluded this is an individual right just like the others. They have done so thousands of times nationally and every time the 2nd amendment has been brought up in the US Supreme court. In fact the Supreme court has ruled that the 2nd amendment guarantees the right of individuals to own guns only if they have a legitimate military use, as militias are military. They militia in question is “the whole people, except a few public officials” as defined by our founding fathers. As such we all have the right to these arms. The Declaration of Independence tells us why. ...“whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,”This right and duty is impossible if the Government is armed and the people are not. As such, the second amendment is the guarantee of the other amendments. Our freedoms cannot be abolished so long as we have the power to abolish the government that tries to steal them.

Guns don’t kill People do. “What about the people who are killed or hurt in accidents.” Despite a lot of complaining on this subject the number of people hurt or killed by firearms by accident has dropped in every year of the past 60+ years. All this while the number of guns in private ownership has risen in the same period. Modern firearms are safer and modern owners are better educated. When a person takes your gun, loads it, points it and pulls the trigger that is not an accident. When they have to get the gun from a secure location that is not an accident. When they have to get the gun from you it becomes impossible to have an accident. The safest place for a gun in the home is on your person under your control. No one can accidentally hurt themselves with it and you don’t have to hunt for it when an intruder breaks in.

During the LA Riots homeowners and shopkeepers begged the police for protection. The police told them to get a gun. The crime spree was so large the cops couldn’t hope to help everyone in danger. Of course, the 14 day waiting period meant any of those people trying to obtain protection would be dead and buried and the riots over before they could get the gun they applied for during the riots. The Courts have ruled cops don’t have to protect you. A couple of cops were sued for not interfering in an in progress robbery. These cops watched from a safe distance and responded to the scene after the criminals left. The court stated the cops were not required to endanger themselves. Their job was to investigate the crime after the fact. Cops don’t have to protect you, the military isn’t allowed to act on US soil except under the most extreme circumstances. You have no one to depend on but yourself and your neighbors for your defense. Keep in mind, after the riots the violent offenders you saw on TV were still free. The prosecuters office didn’t press charges against anyone because, even with the video evidence spread all over the world, the arrests would have led to a 12-15 year backlog of cases. as a result no one is ever prosecuted.

What should you have.  I get this question on occasion. In an apartment or where your neighbors are close with thin walls a gun can be dangerous going through walls. A shotgun with birdshot reduces this but I recommend (and use myself) a sword or long knife. In close quarters it’s faster and more effective than a gun but it does require more skill to avoid having it used against you. If your getting a gun but don’t practice much 1) get a revolver. 2)Go to a local range that lets you rent guns. For $5-$10 plus the cost of ammo you can borrow a gun from the shopkeeper to use on his range. 3)Try a couple and find a caliber your comfortable with. High power is worthless if you can’t control it. Get advice from the shop owner, they will not only help you find the right gun but they can give you basic instruction in safety, gun handling and shooting in most cases for free. It reduces liability and build a customer relationship. 4) Put in some practice. Your less likely to hurt the wrong person if you know how to shoot strait. 5)buy a gun with a speed loader. Speed loaders are a wheel that holds bullets in alignment so you can put a full load in the gun in one move saving time you may need to fight for your life. 6) even with free instruction it’s worth and extra $20-$50 for a real firearms course. You’ll learn more about safety, maintenance and technique as well as a little about the laws. The information available in a Hunters Safety course is invaluable to a gun owner even if he or she doesn’t hunt. If your uncomfortable with I gun I am uncomfortable with you having one but, don’t be unprotected. Learn to defend yourself and find a weapon you are comfortable with. Hint: Even pepper spray requires some training if you want to be effective. If your buying one, buy two and use the first to practice. Spray a tree in the back yard. Don’t practice in the house the smell will make you insane. DON’T SPRAY INTO THE WIND. You’ll only spray yourself.

I’ve owned or handled everything from a nightstick to a machine gun. I have carried a sidearm on a day to day basis for years and keep a Samurai sword for home defense. I’ve only drawn my gun on a person once and that was defending a neighbor from attack by a drunk boyfriend. Having a weapon or carrying one doesn’t mean you can look for trouble. If anything it’s more important than ever to be responsible and avoid trouble. But it does mean you take responsibility for the safety of yourself and others. The choice is yours and I don’t have a stake in which choice you make. For my own part I will not be caught dead without the means to defend myself, even if it’s just a pocket knife. I’d prefer to die fighting than live in fear.