h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just thought I'd wander over here to ask a question rather than clutter upt he Atelier (which may well covered such topics before my time).

It's the firearm ownership thing. I'm not coming over to try to change your opinin, don't worry, and I similarly don't expect to change mine. What I would like to know is how it's viewed in America.

I know that as part of the Constitution you have a right to bear arms, so that in the unlikely event the government went against the people the people could raise an army and take them down.

Is that correct, and secondly, what other aspects am I missing being brought up in the UK?

I know you're pribably busy right now, so don't worry, I can wait until you aren't.

As it's about 0230 here, I am hardly busy. Let me try to address a couple of points of the Second Amendment.

"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."

There are two concepts here.

1. That the States can and should keep a militia in order to maintain a free state.
2. That arms ownership will not be infringed.

The state militia is now considered to be the National Guard, an organization that is under the command of not the President of the United States, but of the Governors of the States. National Guardsmen go through the same basic training and advanced training that the regular army goes through. But they are ultimately under the direction of the governor of the state.

The right to keep and bear arms is simple. It's meant as a check for a tyranical government, as well as to afford the common citizen the ability to protect themselves and their property.

I live in the American West, where the culture is a great deal more firearms friendly. I have also gone through the class and background investigation required to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon on my person or in my vehicle. I live in the city in Utah with the highest incident of violent crime. Less than a year ago a 4 year old girl was kidnapped and murdered less than one quarter mile from my house. I live with my mother, sister, and 4 year old niece. I am not going to stand idly by and fail to protect them if it's within my power. I exercise my rights as a citizen to not only own, but bear a firearm. I am also a pacifist. I do not believe in committing violence. That said, I will meet violence with violence if needed. It's a contradictory position, but one I fully believe in.

I have done a bit of research in crimes commited by CCW (concealed carry weapon) permit holders. In Florida from 1990 to 2000 there is quite a lot of data showing that the incidents of crime for CCW holders is far less than the general population. People willing to go through the needed steps in order to secure a CCW permit are far less likely to be criminals. In fact, you go through a FBI background investigation in order to obtain your CCW. But the world wide statistics show that places with firearms bans still have crime, murders, robberies and assaults. If you disarm the law abiding population it allows the criminal element that much more ability to terrorize.

I am not trying to convince you of the rightness of my standpoint. I understand that there is a huge cultural gap that is not easily filled between my viewpoint and yours. I am just trying to describe my position.

I know that I am in the miniscule minority in the salon at large and the BBC community in general in my viewpoints. I do not often discuss these matters in this venue.

The more information I have about such things, the more tolerance and understanding I have.

One thing that we certainly agree on is that those who are willing to go through checks to be allowed to carry weapons are those most likely not to use them.
As a registered martial artist I am allowed to carry all sorts of otherwise-illegal weapons (such as swords and nunchucku), and yet I would be one of the most unlikely people to ever use them. It takes all sorts, of course, but if you are willing to let people check you out it stands to rights you have nothing to hide.

Part of the reason I would be unwilling to use them is that I know just how much damage I could inflict. I know how to kill from a single blade stroke; I don't know if I could do it in real life, even were my life in danger.

I think I come from a very different world, you and I. Where I grew up there was almost no crime that I saw. Even when I moved to two of the largest UK cities outside of London (Birmingham then Leeds) I have never been mugged, burgled or seen/been a victim or any violence. I felt safe walking the streets at night, although I avoided certain areas. I'm now in a town which feels even safer.

Will post more when I'm not at work.

I can't say that I am in constant danger like I might be if I was in Detroit or Washington DC. But there is a very real possibility of something bad happening to me or my family where I live. While it's a very small city, we do have the worst incidence of crime where I am. That, in the end, was the deciding factor. I had taken the course required to obtain my ccw and held off submitting my paperwork. I was struggling with the reality of submitting my application. Then this happened four blocks from my home: http://www.findmissingkids.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=788
This incident took place less than 500 yards from my house: http://www.ksl.com/?sid=5463469&nid=148

With these things happening so very near to my home, I decided it was in my and my family's best interest to obtain the needed permit to be able to protect us all.

It's a terrible burden, but one I am not willing to let anyone else take up.