Guns have been a huge part of America’s culture since the first Europeans arrived. They are heavily ingrained in our culture and serve purposes like hunting, protection, and more. In recent years, the ownership of guns has come into question in the United States. People are questioning whether it is okay for citizens to be allowed to own guns or not, with some people even calling for an outright ban. The reasons why I believe it is important for the American population to be armed is for personal defense, and because an armed population is a deterrent and obstacle for attackers (foreign invaders and internal alike).
One of the main reasons I find a need for Americans to have the freedom to own guns is for protection from invasion, should anyone attempt it in the future. America is already one of the hardest countries to invade considering we are surrounded by two oceans, contain many mountain ranges, and are thousands of miles large. Despite this, an invasion of the United States is still possible. However, when one accounts for an armed population of guerilla fighters, among these things, a successful invasion of the United States is virtually inconceivable. Admiral Yamamoto, head of the Japanese Navy during WW2, is commonly quoted to have said “to invade the United States would prove most difficult because behind every blade of grass is an American with a rifle.” Yamamoto was absolutely right to think this, because it was (and still is) absolutely true. Our power to maintain militias and allows us to protect ourselves in response to threats. Keep in mind, this threat is not excluded to foreign threats; the threat may be from our own military in the future. It is important that we will be able to mount a resistance in the face of threats to our towns, cities, homes, families, and way of life.
Another reason why people should be allowed to own guns is to protect themselves. If someone enters another’s home, they should have a chance to fight back. If they don’t, they could be severely injured, raped, or killed. It takes 5-10 minutes for officers to respond to a situation. While that is fast, in many cases it is not fast enough. Americans should be allowed the freedom to protect themselves in their home.
Linked below is a video of a concerned resident of Greensboro, NC named Mark Robinson speaking at his city council about his take on gun laws. In the video, he explains why he thinks citizens should remain free to bear arms, and I think he does a great job of explaining why the right to bear arms should stand from a domestic point of view. I strongly encourage everyone reading this blog post to click on and watch this video.