We have a unique situation in the United States, as far as I know. Ours is the only nation where the private citizens are, not allowed by the grace and whims of their government, but instead, GUARANTEED by their Constitution, the right, and some might even call it the duty, to keep and bear arms. I'm sure that most people here are familiar with our Bill Of Rights, but I'm not really sure that the full meaning of that document is clear.
Our Bill Of Rights and Constitution isn't the Government's assurance that we have these rights, it is simply their acknowledgement that the rights exist. "...all men are created equal, and are endowed BY THEIR CREATOR with certain inalienable rights..." If any one of those rights can be taken away by our government, then every single one, from freedom of speech and worship, to the assurance that no human being can ever be the property of another, then any and all of them can, and we become no better than slaves of the State. I know that that sounds extreme to some, but it remains a fact. The right to keep and bear arms is, in the United States, a right, not a privilege, and some might even call it a duty and responsibility.
"A well regulated militia being necessary to a free state..." is the part of the Second Amendment that is often ignored. The Militia Act of 1794 defined the Militia as all able bodied white men between the ages of 15 and 54, and all veterans, regardless of age, as being members of the standing militia, and as such were required to provide their own rifle, ammunition, and equipment, upon being called to duty. That has been modified several times since then (the word "white" has since been eliminated, and "men" has been changed to "person") and the current definition, as of 1904, divides the militia into three groups: the regular Army (all branches), the State Militia and National Guard, and the Reserve Militia, which is comprised of "all able bodied persons between the age of 17 and 54, and all veterans."
I'm not some gun happy prepper hiding in my own private bunker with a cache of MRE's and ammunition, waiting for SHTF Day, but I do believe that I have the right to protect myself, my family, and my property, and I also believe that the day might come when I am required to do so with more than just harsh language and my bare hands and feet. As long as I act responsibly and abide by the just laws of a polite and civilized society, the government has neither the reason nor the right to deny me the right to own firearms simply because criminals choose to use them in the commission of crimes.
