Why More Americans Want to Own Guns

[Gawdzilla]

There are three kinds of lies.

Lies.

Damn lies.

Statistics.

[Chas]

Don't let the "militia" bit fool you. You may have seen the "massive mobilization of patriotic militia men" when that siege went down in Oregon? Drunks with guns do not make a militia. Feel free to ignore the following historical account.

When we formed the US under the Constitution the founders were concerned that big government institutions would require taxation and that would lead to domination of the country by the Feds. (This is in the time when it was "These United States" rather than "The United States" and "states' rights" were very important.)

One of the institutions they avoided was a standing army that could put up a resonable defense against an invader, say an army from Canada. They want it to be true that the locals could form up on short notice and create militia groups that could be formed into an ad hoc army of defense. They offered no pay for this, and gave very little support to the local militia. As a result we were not ready when the British burned Washington in 1814.

But since they wanted it to be true, they decided that it was true. So they added an Amendment that stated people would always be allowed to carry (bear) their long guns to militia training sessions.

The ardent gunners ignore the first part of the 2A, the reason it is there at all, and focus imperfectly on the part about "bear arms". The distortions stem from a desire to have their toys and not pay for them with anything but money.

Um, no.

The Bill of Rights was adopted December 15, 1791;  the British burned Washington August 24, 1814.
In fact, Washington D.C. was only being surveyed in 1791.

[Gawdzilla]

You misunderstood. The militia was called up in the War of 1812 to defend Washington. They fail abysmally.

[Brian37]

There are three kinds of lies.

Lies.

Damn lies.

Statistics.

Nice, nope but sorry, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that gun death and gun violence is affecting us. Only one party wants to do anything to reduce it, the other party simply wants to protect the profits of another industry.

[Gawdzilla]

Not sure why you quoted me there.

[The Grand Nudger]

Nice, nope but sorry, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that gun death and gun violence is affecting us. Only one party wants to do anything to reduce it, the other party simply wants to protect the profits of another industry.

I don't see either party trying to address our gun problem.  You're referring here, though, to the problem of crony capitalism, not our gun problem.  I don't see either party trying to address that separate problem in any case...they both seem content to belly up at the trough. To which party are you referring, specifically?

[Minimalist]

Don't let the "militia" bit fool you.

I don't.  And neither did George Washington.

• To place any dependence upon militia, is, assuredly, resting upon a broken staff. Men just dragged from the tender scenes of domestic life - unaccustomed to the din of arms - totally unacquainted with every kind of military skill, which being followed by a want of confidence in themselves when opposed to troops regularly trained, disciplined, and appointed, superior in knowledge, and superior in arms, makes them timid and ready to fly from their own shadows.
  
  • Letter to the president of Congress, Heights of Harlem (24 September 1776)
    

[The Grand Nudger]

Maybe we should try to spread Washingtons letter's, rather than democracy, over in the middle east. 

[Minimalist]

Here's a 'murrican with a gun who just needs it because he doesn't like to argue.

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/04/alabama-...f-arguing/

Alabama man who gunned down mother in front of her two young children was ‘tired of arguing’

Guys just want peace and quiet.

"Bang...bang..." and then all is quiet.

[Gawdzilla]

People claim they keep guns for defense. The DGU page says different.