Golden Jubilee
Posts: 5171
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 9:28 pm
Location: Lyman, IA
Re: politic on the board
I think it comes down to our country "birth myth". The story that every kid learns is "farmers" took up arms against the "red coats" in Lexington and over threw the English rule. It is so steeped in our history that it was ordinary people with guns that created the US. The fact that today, even with the 7 tons of ammo that guy had, would be no match for any military, ours or another country doesn't seam to register. AN AR-15 or AK-47 is no match for a laser guided missile but there are many that feel that if push comes to shove, they are going to make a stand. As I say, it comes down to the "creation myth" of the US.
We have the highest fire-arm death rate many times over, of any country in the world. Unfortunately I think it has reached beyond the point of being able to do anything about it. There are just so many firearms circulating in this country ( both legal and illegal) that anything done will be like shutting the barn door after the horse is out. Add to that the Gun culture in this country any attempt to get some guns out of circulation will result in more hysteria and stockpiling then doing nothing.
I think if the constitution were written today, the 2nd amendment would likely have to do with the right to drive. Back when it was written, having a firearm to hunt was a matter of survival, and if a government could control who had firearms, they could control food and therefore any uprising. Times have changed, but the myth survives.