Lots of debate here.
In brief: my personal reasons for gun ownership are a) crime deterrent, b) armed populace, c) entertainment. Hunting is last on my list, although should the need arise I am fully capable.
If an armed populace was not a deterrent against tyranny, then why is disarming the populace always high on the list of tyrannical leaders throughout history? An educated, armed, patriotic population will never fear from invasion from without or takeover within. Period. Not that we are there anymore...
A look at the Constitution and Declaration of Independence will reveal the political principles behind a "free" populace. While technology changes, people sure don't. During the crisis of May/June 1940, Britain was sure glad to have a semi-armed population with the will to fight in the face of a possible German invasion across the channel, considering the government was still trying to pull it's pants up from the appeasement orgies of the 30's.
OK, rant off.
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"Trend Number One is that people aren't getting any smarter."
Dogbert
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