Seriously America what's the big deal with guns?

[1911Tuner]

Begs the question, why are some Brits or Europeans obsessed with American guns?

Exactly. Why do they concern themselves with what goes on across a 3,000 mile expanse of water? It ain't like a stray bullet is gonna hit Buckingham Palace.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Think about this: They aren't allowed to own or carry guns, so it's not like they are making a choice based on any rationale they vomit out on a blog. See? Their views might be worthy of respect if they had a choice in the matter, but they have no choice. It's the fox who lost his brush, wanting all other foxes to lose theirs.

One can respect the point of view of an American liberal who chooses to be a pacifist and not own a gun. We might think them unwise, but they are making a real choice based on their own moral or ethical considerations.

It's not so with a subject of the UK. They have no choice in the matter so their point of view is hardly worth consideration.

 

[CTPhil]

Why? For one thing,if not for firearms, America would still be an English colony and subservient to the king/queen.

LOL

 

[klcmschlesinger]

You should all feel bad....

I agree with some of this. You should all feel terrible for owning so many guns. In order to make up for this shocking behavior, you should sell those guns to me or a penny on the dollar. That is your punishment. I will begin accepting private messages now for all of you sinners.......

 

[mljdeckard]

I have been asked this question by many Euros. (I lived there 4+ years.) I explain to them that we as Americans have a fundamental philosophy that says we as INDIVIDUALS are fundamentally responsible for our own safety, success, and happiness. We would rather be free than safe. ESPECIALLY if we are better at keeping OURSELVES safe than the government is.

 

[leeroy71]

Really, Lord Font le Roy. I guess our gun "obsession" is akin to ya'll's bad teeth obsession.


Sorry "High Roaders". Some one should educate morons like these. We "barbarians" didn't invent the firearm. We only mastered it, circa July 4, 1776.

Smoke that Winston.

 

[Ash_J_Williams]

I got into a very similar discussion on another forum with several people outside the US. They didn't understand, however, why we feel the need to own guns at all, and bashed the concept of owning them for defense repeatedly, stating over and over "are things that bad there, is it the wild west there, do you really think someone is going to hurt you," etc etc. I can post the thread if anyone is interested.

 

[Mike1234567]

It sure seems like the recent riots over there would have answered that question.....

 

[amprecon]

A hundred years ago, an Englishman visiting Texas was attempting to find the owner of a huge cattle ranch. He rode up to one of the ranch hands, and inquired, "Pardon me, but could you perhaps tell me where I might locate your master?"

To which the cowboy replied, "That sumbitch ain't been born yet".

/\---- This is why we have guns, ain't got no master, not gonna have one neither.

 

[wannabeagunsmith]

I say get all of 'em behind a Colt .45 and they will be asking for forgiveness and more mags real fast.

 

[hso]

This has turned into a whine/kvetch fest.

The OP is challenging us to visit the site and act as ambassadors for RKBA advocates all over America to the international travel community. Whining and tossing mud make US look like the thugs we're painted to be.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Because I'm a citizen and not a subject.

The Gov't needs to fear its citizens---not the other way around.

That's why.

 

[BeerSleeper]

I realize that's sarcasm, but there's a germ of truth. One reason Americans love guns is that there is a gun tradition here. England has a royalty tradition. People really need to try to understand the context of why others do what they do, rather than just judging by their own autobiography.

Excellent point, but I'm still not taking a royal into the woods with me.

 

[Resist Evil]

Because I'm a citizen and not a subject.

The Gov't needs to fear its citizens---not the other way around.

That's why.

100% correct. Thank you for your post.

 

[DrewBegley]

dAb

 

[DrewBegley]

They're afraid America's influenced the world to be a more dangerous place by allowing it's citizens to protect themselves with firearms? That seems strange considering crime rates overseas, especially "hot burglaries/robberies", have skyrocketted in the past ten years... Probably has something to do with illegalizing self defense in the U.K.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

One can respect the point of view of an American liberal who chooses to be a pacifist and not own a gun. We might think them unwise, but they are making a real choice based on their own moral or ethical considerations.

Don B. Kates has an interesting story about a passivist he met while they both drove South to participate in the civil rights movement. (Don B. Kates, "Restricting Handguns: Liberal Skeptics Speak Out", North River Press, 1979). Kates believed in civil disobedience, pacifism, with a respect for self defense if necessary, and always went armed. The passivist was appalled that Kates was armed. Sometime later, they met again. Kates was still an advocate of civil disobedience, and self defense if necessary. The passivist had responded to Klan-type violence by going over to the dark side: he became a bomb-tossing radical. There are ethical pacifists who chose that path, then there are passivists who project their inner demons on everyone else, and want their anal-retentive tightness imposed on everyone else through the state use of force.