Carnage on a Norweigan Island

[VictorCharlie]

There is a better argument for the 2nd than defense of personal property and protection. An armed populace is the best defense to tyranny. Yes it comes with a certain acceptance of unattended consequences but homicide in the U.S. is much more a cultural issue than a gun ownership one. You might be able to decrease the efficiency of homicide in this country but you would do so at the expense of the law abiding citizen's liberty. I'd imagine the folks in Syria sure wouldn't mind having a few decent assault rifles right now.

[marbleheadmaui]

There is a better argument for the 2nd than defense of personal property and protection. An armed populace is the best defense to tyranny. Yes it comes with a certain acceptance of unattended consequences but homicide in the U.S. is much more a cultural issue than a gun ownership one. You might be able to decrease the efficiency of homicide in this country but you would do so at the expense of the law abiding citizen's liberty. I'd imagine the folks in Syria sure wouldn't mind having a few decent assault rifles right now.

That is of course the Founding Father's argument and, in my view, the single most important reason. NOBODY has EVER killed as often as governments killing their own citizens.