“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 second amendment of the United States constitution is traditionally and widely understood to protect the right for individuals to possess firearms. It was ratified on December 15, 1791 but it was only in 2008 that the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed for the first time that “the second amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home“.
People in the United States did not wait for this clarification to start owning firearms obviously. It is estimated by the Small Arms Survey that there were 120 firearms for every 100 civilians in the United States in 2017, for a population of 326 millions. Top of the list.
Boy would you think homes are safe with such a ratio.
But you see, a gun can be as lethal to you when you are on the wrong side of its barrel as when you are on the right side of it, for a gun is effective as a life taking device, but not really as a threat. Indeed, when facing an imminent threat to your life, say an armed burglary, waving a gun and just threatening to use it will probably get you killed, as it gives the threat in front of you an extremely strong incentive to shoot first. And the threat will not miss. You probably will. You are not that proficient at shooting, let’s face it. OK, you have a couple of guns you keep in a safe box, still, I bet you cannot even remember the last time you were at a shooting range.
But guess what, the imminent threat in front of you was there yesterday, and the day before, and will be there tomorrow. But not you if he sees his plans through, especially if you wave a gun at him. Or her. A gun does not have a sex.
It does not have a soul either. So be prepared to either take a soul with it or give one up. No compromise, no in-between.
Finally, before you take the path to the dark side, think of this: less guns on the street means less chances of running into one and less likelihood to find yourself on the wrong side of a gun barrel. Or on the right side of it, but I guess it is all the same because neither will do you any good.
Let the board sound
and drop the gun
Rabih
The Idea Sounding Board 