The 2nd Amendment is one of my favorites. In times like these, it becomes ever more apparent why a well-armed populace is a must in order to prevent oppression, terrorism, and crime of all sorts.
Here are just a few ways to use this great invention:
Hunting:
If you have a gun and know how to use it, you will be able to provide for you and your own regardless of the financial situation. A gun provides you with a great deal of independence.
As a side note, I don't eat meat as I disagree with the way the animals are raised, genetically modified, and slaughtered. That being said, I see nothing wrong with taking from nature that which we need if we do not waste and are thankful for it.
Protection:
Hunger is a powerful force and those that don't have the proper resources or know how to hunt and gather might resort to killing and stealing from their fellow man. Having a gun is a strong deterrent. Just the sight of a gun or the firing of a warning shot can make it so you never actually have to use it to kill anyone.
Imagine what would have been the case in Columbine, Virginia Tech, Mumbai, etc. if any of the victims had been armed. Criminals, government, and "terrorists" (all the same pretty much) will always have guns and so should you! It makes it a level playing field. The 2nd Amendment was not written in vain.
Sport:
Which brings me to the title of this brief diary: guns are fun! I was out with my uncles, brother, and father skeet shooting over the holidays and had a blast. It was great seeing families, with women and children, all safely enjoying themselves and bonding around guns. Put your prejudices aside, go to a gun range, and fire off some rounds at a target. I believe you will find it incredibly satisfying.
Conclusion:
A tool is never inherently good or evil. It is the person wielding the gun that is responsible for his or her actions. Governments convince people that wearing a uniform gives them the right to initiate force against those who have not iniated force against anyone else. This is bad.
Oddly enough, I am a pacifist who follows in the way of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jesus, and all of the other prophets of peace. I do not believe the war we are in can be won with force of arms, but rather with the power of our ideas. Unarmed civil disobendience is incredibly effective. If you are to use a gun, it should only be used as a very last resort.
At the end of the day, I am glad that we have the most well-armed populace in the world. It gives me hope.
