Kyle Cassidy traveled 15,000 miles over two years photographing Americans in their homes and asking one question: “Why do you own a gun?” A good question, particularly since most of these guns are not easily reconcilable with the notion of self-defence and their true place should be somewhere in the Armed Forces. All the photo were later compiled in the book with its German edition being published this year. The pics below are taken from the latter. As said by Alan Cooperman from The Washington Post: “Each picture in Armed America could be a pro-gun advertisement - or an anti-gun poster. That’s what makes the book so riveting.”
If anyone interested, the book can be ordered at Amazon for only $13.93.
Last 5 posts by Lordy
- 2 Weeks of Holidays
- Hot Yésica Toscanini from Argentina
- Creative Photography
- Cute Little Kittens
- Hot Fabiana Tambosi
Share:
Funtasticus Menu
Other Pages
Our Authors
Archives
Our Friends
Funtastic Tools:
New Comments:
Current Poll:
Popular Tags:
March 14th, 2008 - 4:09 am
“Each picture in Armed America could be a pro-gun advertisement - or an anti-gun poster. That’s what makes the book so riveting.”
BS! The whole point is too make gun owners look like nutjobs. This is the worst kind of Left-Wing prooganda there is. “Hey look, a toddler toddling in front of an AK-47″ The publishers should be ashamed of themselves for this. Michael Moore would be proud.
March 14th, 2008 - 7:50 am
I don’t take side on politic but as the amateur photographer these picture is beautiful.
BTW. I appreciate that most if not all of the people keep their finger off the trigger. a sign of basic training and responsibility if you ask me.
March 14th, 2008 - 8:01 am
By the way, I am not a gun owner. I just can’t stand slanted political BS disguised as unbiased journalism. It makes me sick. If anything, you would think the Germans would know better than to have faith in propaganda like this.
March 14th, 2008 - 9:33 am
Why do you think you know that “we Germans” believe this “propaganda”? In my point of view these are some great artificially set-up photoshoots with a satirical approach to the whole private gun owning issue in the US. Nothing more and nothing less.
March 14th, 2008 - 9:48 am
Hi. I aplogize. I singled out Germans because It is (I think) a German production. Your view is exactly correct in my opinion. I am sorry if I have offended any sensible minded Germans.
March 14th, 2008 - 11:06 am
MEL: Did you notice the phrase “Fotografien von Kyle Cassidy” (”Photos by Kyle Cassidy”) in the last photo?
Cassidy is in fact an American.
I can assure you that “Kyle Cassidy” is n no way a German name.
You guys might want to do a google search before starting to accuse others.
The reason why the last photo has a German title on it is that those photos were obviously taken from a german newspaper which published an article about Cassidy’s project.
The newspaper is called “Die Zeit” (”The Time”) and is a major weekly paper in Germany. And nope, it’s no left-wing paper. In fact it’s a liberal, center-right paper.
http://www.kylecassidy.com | http://www.armedamerica.org
March 14th, 2008 - 11:40 am
HAHAHA What a bunch of nut jobs! No wonder there are so many shootings in America
March 14th, 2008 - 11:46 am
No offense taken MEL and thanks for the research Samuel
March 14th, 2008 - 12:02 pm
None of those people look like nut jobs to me, I just see law abiding citizens showing off their legally obtained firearms. I think your just an idiot using faulty reasoning Krapulator.
March 14th, 2008 - 12:15 pm
poor america!
all suckers!
March 14th, 2008 - 12:16 pm
i love america
March 14th, 2008 - 12:33 pm
I love the Buddhist with the gun.
March 14th, 2008 - 12:48 pm
Freaks!!!!!!!! What a bunch of nut jobs!!!!!
Redneck Hillbillies!!!!!!!!!
Thats “the bible belt” in pictures!!!!
March 14th, 2008 - 12:56 pm
In what state is it legal to own an M203 grenade launcher?? As far as I know, even a class III can’t get you that kind of hardware legally. I suppose it could be disabled/for cosmetic effect only…
March 14th, 2008 - 1:14 pm
The NRA should be happy.
March 14th, 2008 - 1:18 pm
I think they are beautiful pictures. I agree that they could be seen as pro gun or anti gun.
If those of you who think they are “nut jobs” can imagine the photos without the guns in them, they all look like normal American families and they are (well OK, maybe not ALL of them. The guy with all the buttons on his vest is a little strange.) .
March 14th, 2008 - 1:26 pm
“most of these guns are not easily reconcilable with the notion of self-defence”
I beg to differ. Read the ruling by DC Circuit Court of Appeals in *Parker v. DC*. The Second Amendment is predicated on the use of arms in collective self-defense against “the depredations of a tyrannical government”.
“and their true place should be somewhere in the Armed Forces”
Or in the citizen militia (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/311.html), or in the hands of the people, from whom the militia must be drawn.
March 14th, 2008 - 1:30 pm
WOW … now i see true face of democracy. long live moronity!
March 14th, 2008 - 1:46 pm
The choice of pics casts those folks in a poor light. I’m sure there are more that didn’t make it onto this web site that shows more normal looking folks. There’s definitely some kooky looking people in this set but they’ve been staged at every step of the way.
The Lambda Calculus hit the nail on the head. And in these days of when the fourth estate has failed the citizens of this country, having a citizenry that can rise up against a tyrannical government is the last hope of a democracy and is IMHO the ultimate democratic act.
March 14th, 2008 - 1:54 pm
A lot of small cocks. no?
March 14th, 2008 - 1:57 pm
With a government like ours, can you really blame any American for NOT wanting to be armed?
Outlaw guns - and only outlaws (and government) will have them.
March 14th, 2008 - 2:08 pm
Poor America ! Why do you need all these toys ? Is it that difficult to defend yourself with words ? Is violence the only language you understand ?
I like the pictures of the kids holding the guns… Bowling for Columbine… remember ??? Are you, americans (lowercase) shocked when a riffle occurs ? Well… you now know how it is so easily possible !
Dear americans, don’t be sad when you’re shot… America provides you with the guns !!!
NRA can be proud, they have made a good brainwashing ! And they make a good money on your back…
A European with a brain !
March 14th, 2008 - 2:10 pm
I’m a 53 year old social liberal. I live in a semi-rural area where most men own at least two or three guns. They hunt with them some, but mostly they just collect them, the way other people collect cars or motorcycles.
Most of these guys aren’t going to make the cover of GQ Magazine, but nut jobs they’re not.
It would, however, be advisable not to threaten their lives or those of any of their family members. And in this state, if someone breaks into your house, that’s considered sufficient endangerment to justify shooting them.
And that is exactly what has happened on at least one occassion that I am aware of in the last few years.
Lately though, I’ve been hearing a heretofore unconsidered use for the armories a lot of these guys possess. They know all about Bush, and his new plans for martial law, and I think if they ever try to impose it in this area things will not go well.
We saw a prelude to how that might work when the National Guard and Blackwater Security went through the city of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, knocking on doors and demanding that residents give up their guns.
The justification for this was to restore order, I suppose.
No one around here is interested in having the federal government restore order. They don’t anticipate order being lost unless the federal government trys to impose totalitarian rule in this country under the guise of martial law for security against terrorism.
I keep telling these guys that guns won’t be any use against some of the cute new weapons our government has developed. The “non-lethal” microwave weapon that has a range of 300 yards is an interesting example. When you find yourself the target of this weapon, the sensation is said to be as if your skin is on fire.
The military wanted to introduce this weapon in Iraq, but someone higher in the chain of command with “better judgement” nixed that idea. He pointed out that it would be a better idea to ‘test it domestically before deploying it in overseas combat.”
That’s military speak for “fire the motherfucker at some of your own citizens in a non-controlled setting and see if it fucks them up as much as the experiments show it will. If it puts the cocksuckers out quick like we think it will, then use it on Haji.”
But my friends, they won’t listen. They’ll be waiting when federal troops are deployed. And at that point I don’t think they’ll be willing to listen to reason
March 14th, 2008 - 2:12 pm
As a gun owner and sometime paranoiac conspiracy theorist, the fact that my fellow Americans are this well armed actually shines a small ray of hope into my day.
March 14th, 2008 - 2:18 pm
More people are killed, on any given day, by cars, than by guns. Maybe the next photo shoot will be people with cars.
Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.
March 14th, 2008 - 2:21 pm
I like the settings in these photos. From the looks of their homes, he covered a wide swath of white people in my country. Some of them look a little too serious and some of them just look like avid collectors.
Just like every other group of people in the world it’s the five percent that make the rest look bad. In this case the bad 5 percent is really really bad. Really bad.
March 14th, 2008 - 2:32 pm
I used to live next-door to a guy who not only had a variety of assault rifles, but also had a mortar and half a dozen rounds for the thing. Makes me wonder how many other folks here have more than casual firepower hidden in their basements.
March 14th, 2008 - 2:33 pm
Conservative Muslim Redneck hillbilly gun owner.
Different Regions. Different Cultures. Different Background.
!!!!But they look just the same!!!!!!!! It’s amazing!!!!!
March 14th, 2008 - 2:42 pm
Damn straight! These are every day free people, living every day lives of freedom. Let’s see if any dictator dare send his troops into an American neighborhood! Our forefathers knew EXACTLY what they were doing when they guaranteed the right to bear firearms.
March 14th, 2008 - 2:53 pm
They looked pretty normal to me, a Calif. liberal. Fear of guns has been used as one more thing to seperate people who actually have common interests. And yes if you have guns, teach your kids about them when young.
Would have liked to see the collection of the guy with the sharps, all the longuns with bayonets. they are really quite interesting historically.
March 14th, 2008 - 2:54 pm
Great pictures, largely idiotic comments.
“We saw a prelude to how that might work when the National Guard and Blackwater Security went through the city of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, knocking on doors and demanding that residents give up their guns.”
Could that have been because the people trying to help the “people” in New Orleans were taking fire from that lovely city’s equally lovely residents? My best friend is in the Coast Guard and his boat had to turn back because they were being shot at by the populace. BUT…you don’t hear about that in the news. Or how Wal-Mart flung open their doors before the storm hit to allow people to take all the food and water they needed, only to have to close them because their employees were being beaten and the only thing people were taking were guns, TVs, video games, etc.
“As a gun owner and sometime paranoiac conspiracy theorist, the fact that my fellow Americans are this well armed actually shines a small ray of hope into my day.”
LOL. The government already has control of the population. They dangle carrots, placate all with TV and other “things”, and render everyone helpless by their own ignorance and apathy. They don’t need to impose martial law — they’ve already got control of every moron who doesn’t read and who cares more about “American Idol” than world politics.
March 14th, 2008 - 2:55 pm
Maybe some of you “anti-gun” idiots should take a history lesson on the American Revolution and tie that in with why the right to bear arms is the second amendment.
How do you morons think we gained our sovereignty as the United States of America from England?
Remember that term “Freedom”?
March 14th, 2008 - 3:00 pm
To all of the people that are making the ANti-American, hillbilly, poor guys comments…I dare you to invade. The majority of Americans have some sort of firearm in their home, why don’t you go rub one out to Hasslehoff mien heir??
March 14th, 2008 - 3:01 pm
yet more American ego macho wank. No wonder you kill yourselves so frequently… fucking retards.
Nice pictures.
March 14th, 2008 - 3:28 pm
Anyone that would pose their child with a gun needs their testicles cut out.
Is there any doubt why most of the world considers Americans freaks?
Some of the most disturbing pictures I have ever seen.
America is phucked.
March 14th, 2008 - 3:33 pm
Most of the people in the photos are just collectors. You have to admit it beats the hell out of beanie babies. The guy in the 14th pic is a little scary though.
Americans were given the right to own guns as a way to keep the government from screwing them. (A fat lot of good it did!)
March 14th, 2008 - 3:43 pm
Some of the people posting here are true idiots. Try a little critical thinking for once?
Lets say the U.S. suddenly banned all firearms for personal use. Do you people really think thats going to stop gun crime? In reality it would make it worse. In case you need reminding criminals don’t follow laws, they will still have guns. Any gun laws would only effect those who follow the law to begin with. It may be feasible to ban guns in a small, homogeneous country like Japan but this is the U.S., it’s big and diverse, nothing can ever be truly banned here as a black market will materialize from somewhere. So any banning would only empower those who commit crimes using guns.
If by some stroke of magic you could ban every gun in the world and prevent another one from ever being made, then I could see the logic in banning guns. But any less than that, all you are doing is empowering those who use guns for crime.
March 14th, 2008 - 4:10 pm
http://www.armedamerica.org/
Heres a link to the site these pics were linkjacked from.
After looking at the pics at the source it seems this site tried to cherry picked the most stereotypical ones. I guess it was a smart move as it definitively appeased your critics…
“HAHAHA What a bunch of nut jobs!…” -Krap
“Conservative Muslim Redneck hillbilly gun owner.” -Amazing
etc…
Nothing but a bunch of idiotic bigots…
March 14th, 2008 - 4:25 pm
You act as if these guns have no place in regular peoples homes. Who are you to say this? Look at everyone of those pictures, they are all exercising gun safety practices which would indicate they are responsible gun owners.
(Safe muzzle direction, unloaded, fingers outside the trigger guard etc)
Taking away guns based on what they might do would be akin to me censoring your blog because you MIGHT criticize a government agency.
P.S. As much as self-defense and hunting are righteous pursuits, the 2nd amendment has nothing to do with them. The 2nd Amendment is to ensure, that like Iraq, an armed populace can never ultimately be conquered. As the constitution intended, the power is ultimately in the hands of the people
March 14th, 2008 - 4:28 pm
Although shooting a gun might be fun (it is, tried it when I was in the US few months back) having so many of them to ensure “freedom” is totally crazy.
Why are so many American Soldiers dying in places like Afghanistan or Iraq? Because all of those people have guns and heavier stuff!!!
So the comments from the others about them daring any dictator to come into the country… Its all fair that the US troops are shot at and blown up then???
And not having any faith in one’s own government… Jeezz… Why do you elect those stupid fuckers then?
You can’t not have seen this coming with an unmitigated a**hole like Bush people. You get what you ask for.
So I agree with the other commenters that this just makes Americans look stupid. Although I know there are many Americans who fortunately are not.
March 14th, 2008 - 4:28 pm
The photos are quite cool.
The guns are quite insane
I would love to have a gun or two, or three, has much as the next (American) man.
But to have enough weapons to equip a small army is too much. I wouldn’t have room for them nor time to play with them. =)
But when you live in a country with bad politicians you sometimes may need such fire power to enhance the will of the people against dark interests.
Guns don’t kill people. People with guns kill people.
March 14th, 2008 - 4:35 pm
Guess what? Many people who own a lot of guns are “nutjobs.” The average gun owner doesn’t have dozens of guns though.
However, there are many, many households with young children and guns. I really don’t see how that’s biased. Most of the pictures didn’t have any children in them. And beside, I grew up in a gun family in the South; don’t try to tell me that many, many young boys don’t have access to guns. I received a rifle as a present on my 12th birthday; that was common in my area.
Guns are dangerous and require respect. I enjoy guns, but I understand arguments for stricter controls. The whole “right to bear arms” issue is ridiculous to me. I don’t care how many guns I have in my house, I’m not going to be able to defend myself against an attack from any modern government. It’s good for us to be able to have guns for hunting, but I don’t want anybody to be able to drive down to Wal-Mart and pick up an automatic weapon.
I don’t trust the average person to be responsible with a gun. I think it would be perfectly acceptable for state governments to require proof of competency to own a gun, similar to driving a car.
March 14th, 2008 - 4:46 pm
These are the people that will survive during The Zombie Attack
March 14th, 2008 - 4:50 pm
>>Spitz R. S. Wallows
>>March 14th, 2008 - 3:28 pm
>>Anyone that would pose their child with a gun needs their testicles cut out
Really? Why? Is that gun going to magically jump up and bite them? Maybe that gun will magically load itself, then shoot the poor child to death? Perhaps it will sneak up on a child while the child is asleep and shoot her… You gotta be extra careful with those “assault” weapons - they are SNEAKY!
I guess people should no longer pose their children with pictures of their dogs - you know, since they are more likely to get bitten by the family pooch than they are to get shot.
Oh, and I bet you’d have all manner of dastardly things planned for me if you knew I gave my daughter a youth BB gun for her birthday… her 7th birthday. Funny thing is, I’d guess she - and her 5 year old brother - know more about the safe operation of that gun that you do.
Enjoy,
~DRM~
March 14th, 2008 - 4:51 pm
To all of you who call these good folks nutjobs, hilbillies and idiots:
What are you going to defend yourself with when your government comes knocking on your door with THEIR guns? Nothing? Think about that when you’re standing in line for the furnace.
March 14th, 2008 - 4:55 pm
I don’t think everyone who owns a gun in a nut. Some of them surely are, but most are just scared. Just read the comments of the gun supporters. They are all scared of something. Scared of their government, scared of foreign invaders, scared of their neighbors.
If people are well educated and keep themselves well enough informed about what is really going on the world, they wouldn’t be so scared all the time.
Ignorance breeds fear; fear makes people want to go out and buy a gun. Fear also makes people go out and buy more stuff in general which is why fear has become a staple of American society.
March 14th, 2008 - 5:08 pm
If the purpose of Art is a “springboard for spiritual contemplation” these are highly successful photos.
If you’re anti-gun, a picture of toddlers “toddling” with guns will shock-and/or-incite action in you, if you’re pro-gun you’ll note how the majority of these folks are practicing decent gun safety (unloaded, pointed down or up, finger off the trigger) and also note how many of these folks have a LOT of “dangerous” guns and seemingly no issues…
If you don’t know or have mixed opinions about the issue, these images will compel you to dig deeper for your own understanding of the subject… this… ladies and gents, is art’s highest purpose.
March 14th, 2008 - 5:11 pm
People got into fistfights after Katrina at the gas pumps because word got out that there might be a possibility of there maybe being a gas shortage here in Charlotte. God forbid this crazy armed to the teeth country ever experiences a real emergency.
March 14th, 2008 - 5:20 pm
And even with all these firearms at their disposal, these happy, smiling people have, somehow, managed to not shoot anyone or commit any offense that would have them incarcerated or have their gun ownership rights taken away. Interesting, nicht wahr?
March 14th, 2008 - 5:20 pm
Way to select the most white-trash-looking people possible! Almost everyone I know owns firearms, but not a single one of ‘em looks as white-trash as any of these folks. I would question the selection process here–definitely looks agenda-driven.
March 14th, 2008 - 5:44 pm
Wayne -
Are you “scared” of fire when you keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen?
Are you “scared” of an auto accident when you put on your seatbelt?
Might you never need either? Entirely possible.
But all it takes is one time when you *do* need one of them for you pay dearly if you don’t have one handy.
It seems you have ‘fear” confused with “being prepared”.
~DRM~
March 14th, 2008 - 6:58 pm
Well, the one good thing Hitler did was pass strict gun control legislation to keep the German people safe.
March 14th, 2008 - 7:22 pm
No amount of guns in your single family home is going to help you if
your government comes knocking on your door. Seriously. They are in a position of authority and anything you do that does not amount to absolute compliance will result in at best your arrest and at worst, your death (and possibly that of your family as well). In the eyes of the law. you are not defending yourself, regardless of the situation, you are obstructing authorities who are there “legally” so this is really a riduculous argument. If you want to have a gun, great, but don’t try and justify it like you are somehow going to go all Red Dawn and save the USA.
And Snail - I read, I’m politically and I also like American Idol.
March 14th, 2008 - 7:22 pm
No amount of guns in your single family home is going to help you if
your government comes knocking on your door. Seriously. They are in a position of authority and anything you do that does not amount to absolute compliance will result in at best your arrest and at worst, your death (and possibly that of your family as well). In the eyes of the law. you are not defending yourself, regardless of the situation, you are obstructing authorities who are there “legally” so this is really a riduculous argument. If you want to have a gun, great, but don’t try and justify it like you are somehow going to go all Red Dawn and save the USA.
And Snail - I read, I’m politically informed and I also like American Idol.
March 14th, 2008 - 7:28 pm
Living in Alaska and Montana, 99% of the people own guns of one sort or another. Most to hunt, many collectors, and some as yahoos who just like to see things explode.
I belive in our constitution to bear arms. I don’t like automatic weapons or pistols, but that is a personal belief. My kids were never allowed to play with “toy” guns, but they were shooting skete by 9 with shotguns they could handle, and could take them apart and put them together blindfolded. Gun safety in our house was taken very seriously, guns were locked up in one place, ammo in another. My kids were hunting as soon as they could, and I am proud that they can hunt and fend for themselves, and they luckily turned out responsible, non yahoos or killers. I do not want that right taken away. Before columbine, if you pulled into their high school, almost every kid who drove to work had a rifle and ammo in their vehicle because they hunted after school, and nothing was thought of it. We didn’t have a murder rate, and shootouts were very rare.
I live alone now, and I have several rifles at home. If you break into my house, I will shoot you dead, end of story. If i let you live, you’ll sue my ass, and I’ll go to jail, so sorry not gonna happen.
There will always be gun toting idiots, but there will always be people like me, just an average person trying to make my way through this world as peacefully as possible. The media bias on this issue is nuts, terrible things like Columbine, Virginia Tech,and Katrina happened, but they aren’t the norm, and those incidents don’t convince me, though they sadden me to the core, to change my mind on the constitution. For those people on the outside looking in, get a grip, if you are so easily misled by contrived media images, then you have no business commenting. Gee, I’ll defend your right to though.
March 14th, 2008 - 8:47 pm
Of course, those images send a message. However it is received. Study the history of world uprisings!
Gun ownership is a good idea if one examines past excesses of the rulers. They may be no match for professional killers, but just the thought of facing armed resistance is a hindrance to those interested in manipulating the populous. The main problem of all past uprisings was the acquisition of arms.
That in turn gave an upper hand to those with a different stake in the revolt.
March 15th, 2008 - 1:14 am
Lordy (the poster) wrote: “… most of these guns are not easily reconcilable with the notion of self-defense and their true place should be somewhere in the Armed Forces.”
When Lordy can tell me what each one of these guns actually is, then maybe we can have a rational discussion about what does and does not belong in the hands of civilians as opposed to the military. Until then, this is simply Lordy’s opinion, and I believe its expression at the top of this page was intended to color the opinion of the viewer.
The people on this page run the gamut from bible-thumpers to lesbians to hipsters. To me this seems like a diverse and vibrant culture– Very different than the gun culture peddled by the Republicans and the NRA. Keep in mind that none of these people have hurt anyone. Why should they be prevented from having their guns?
March 15th, 2008 - 2:17 am
interference; they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.”
George Washington.
2) “The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is
that they be properly armed.”
Alexander Hamilton.
3) “Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in
awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property.”
Thomas Paine.
4) “Americans need not fear the federal government because
they enjoy the advantage of being armed, which you possess
over the people of almost every other nation.”
James Madison.
5) “Games played with the ball and others of that nature,
are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the
mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of
you r walks.”
Thomas Jefferson.
6) “The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone
who is able may have a gun.”
Patrick Henry.
7) “Laws that forbid the carrying of arms… disarm only
“To disarm the people is the best and most effectual
those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit
crimes”
Thomas Jefferson quoting Cesare Beccaria.
way to enslave them.”
George Mason
9) “The said Constitution be never construed… to prevent
the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens
from keeping their own arms.”
Samuel Adams.
10) “But the right of citizens to bear arms is just one more
guarantee against arbitrary government, and one more
safeguard against a tyranny which now appears remote in
America, but which historically has proved to be always
possible.”
Hubert Humphrey .
11) “I carried it (a revolver) religiously and during the
summer I asked a friend, a man who had been one of
Franklin’s bodyguards in New York State, to give me some
practice in target shooting so that if the need arose I would
know how to use the gun.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
12) “By calling attention to ‘a well regulated militia’, the
’security’ of the nation, and the right of each citizen ‘to
keep and bear arms’, our founding fathers recognized the
essentially civilian nature of our economy. Although it is
extremely unlikely that the fears of governmental tyranny
which gave rise to the Second Amendment will ever be a
major danger to our nation, the Amendment still remains
an important declaration of our basic civilian-military
relationships, in which every citizen must be ready to
participate in the defense of his country. For that reason,
I believe the Second Amendment will always be important.”
John F. Kennedy
13) “Mightn’t it be better in those areas of high crime to arm
the homeowner and the shopkeep er, teach him how to use his
weapons and put the word out to the underworld that it is no
longer totally safe to rob and murder? One wonders indeed
if the rising crime rate isn’t due as much as anything to the
criminal’s instinctive knowledge that the average victim no
longer has any means of protection. No one knows how
many crimes are committed because the criminal knows he
has a soft touch. No one knows how many stores have been
left alone because the criminals knew them to be guarded by a
man with a gun.”
R onald Reagan.
I own a gun because:
14) 1911: Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to
1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves,
were rounded up and exterminated.
15) 1929: Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929
to 1953, about 40-60 million citizens, unable to defend themselves,
were rounded up and exterminated or starved to death.
16) 1935: China established gun control. From 1948 to 1952, 20
million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were
rounded up and exterminated.
17) 1938: Germany established gun control. From 1939 to 1945,
13 million Jews, Catholics and others who were unable to defend
themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
18) 1956: Cambodia established gun control. From 1975 to 1977,
one million ‘educated’ people, unable to defend themselves, were
rounded up and exterminated.”
19) 1964: Guatemala established gun control. From 1964 to 1981,
100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded
up and exterminated.
20) 1966-1976: China still has gun control. Another 50-100 million
civilians, unable to defend themselves, were killed in Mao Tse Tung’s
“Cultural Revolution”.
21) 1970: Uganda established gun control. From 1971 to 1979,
300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up
and exterminated.
22) 1990s: Rwanda established gun control. In a span of 100 days
in April 1994, 800,000 people who were unable to defend themselves
were massacred to death - most by machetes. How many dead,
hacked-up bodies do you think were found holding a loaded gun?
(answer is less than one)
23) 1992: Los Angeles California, USA. For three days police stood
by and watched, unable to stop the rioting, arson and destruction of
whole neighborhoods. Yet many Korean stores were virtually
untouched - protected by their well-armed storeowners who exercised
their right to self-defense through their right to keep and bear arms and
who did for themselves what the police were unwilling or unable to do.
24) Late 1990s: Great Britain established total gun control. Robberies,
burglaries and assaults have skyrocketed making London’s violent
crime rate now higher than anywhere in America.
25) 2005: New Orleans hit by hurricane. Widespread catastrophe, no
law enforcement across most of the city for weeks. Some citizens
protected themselves with firearms - until NOLA police began
forcefully confiscating them “for their own protection”, leaving even
the elderly unable to defend themselves against roving gangs
of looters.
26) “Ordinary citizens don’t need guns, as their having guns doesn’t
serve the State.”
Heinrich Himmler
I Own Firearms Because It Is My God-Given Right To Self-Defense:
27) “If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies,
there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.”
Exodus 22:2
28) “…he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.”
Luke 22:36
29) “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his
goods are in peace.”
Luke 11:21
30) “We hol d these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness.”
Declaration of Independence.
I Own Firearms Because I Have Common Sense:
31) The second amendment is not dependant on the most recent
crime statistics - nor is my right to own a gun contingent on what
criminals do.
32) 2 million times a year, private citizens successfully use
firearms to defend themselves.
33) Criminals fear victims holding guns, not victims holding phones.
I Own Firearms Because There Are Those with Power Who, If Given
The Chance, Would Force Me to Relinquish them:
34) “Banning guns addresses a fundamental right of Americans to feel
safe.”
Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-CA.
35) “We’re going to hammer guns on the anvil of relentless legislative
strategy! We’re going to beat guns into submission!”
Rep. (now Senator) Charles Schumer D-NY.
36) “Senator Ashcroft is so far out of the mainstream that he has
said that citizens need to be armed in order to protect themselves against
a tyrannical government. Our government? Tyrannical?”
Sen. Ted Kennedy D-MA, at John Ashcroft’s Senate confirmation
hearing, 2001.
37) “The sale of guns must stop. Halfway measures are not enough.”
Sarah Brady.
38) “Banning guns is an idea whose time has come.”
Sen. Joseph Biden, D-DE.
39) “I don’t believe that everybody in America needs to be able to
buy a semi-automatic or fully-automatic weapon, built only for the
purpose of killing people, in order to protect the right of Americans
to hunt and practice marksmanship and to be secure.”
Bill Clinton.
40) “I don’t care about crime. I just want to get the guns.”
Former Senator Howard Metzenbaum, D-OH during Brady Bill
debates.
41) “If someone is so fearful that, they’re going to start using their
weapons to protect their rights, makes me very nervous that these people
have these weapons at all!” Rep. Henry Waxman, D-NY
March 15th, 2008 - 2:00 pm
Hey, all these americans are great!
With some luck (for the rest of mandkind) the will shoot each other, and things will be better!!!
March 15th, 2008 - 2:52 pm
Why do Americans love guns? It’s because we’re Americans. God, Guns and Guts are where it’s at.
Oh yeah, all you sensible Germans out there, how many unarmed men and women have died in your countrymen’s human ovens?
And the rest of you sensitive Euros, how many colored people have died under your many colonizations?
Now, tell me again why should Americans, nay, the rest of the word populace shouldn’t need guns?
March 15th, 2008 - 7:03 pm
As a realist who doesn’t own a gun, there are many responsible gun owners in this country. Even if guns were made illegal (and they are in certain parts of our country, convient that these parts have a overwhelmingly and rediculous crime rate) criminals would still have them and still use them. They would just have more targets to choose from. And when the guns are gone, it will be knives, and when those are gone it will be shanks and sticks. The point being is criminals will always be criminals.
You can’t sell me on the fact that some countries like the UK etc are safer then anybody else, specially with the videos of some fat Bobby getting taken out by two men with knives. I feel very safe when the men who are supposed to be protecting me can’t even protect themselves.
On the Bush comments, yeah we elected him. Don’t think for a second though that a majority of the US doesn’t regret it one bit. You know nothing of our politics, you only know the limited truths of what the media feeds you. All the foreigners see is some cowboy gunslinger that the american people keep electing, sometimes you need to elect the lesser of the two evils.
Its mind boggling to listen to men and women from other countries berate and insult American policies and its people when infact much of the general poplulation often share similar views on topics like the president and the war but foreigners don’t know because once again they only see and read the biased info the media feeds them.
March 15th, 2008 - 7:28 pm
RCL,
Actually, the grenade launcher is legal to own. It’s the AMMUNITION for the grenade launcher that is restricted.
March 15th, 2008 - 8:59 pm
John in comment 23 states, …
“It would, however, be advisable not to threaten their lives or those of any of their family members. And in this state, if someone breaks into your house, that’s considered sufficient endangerment to justify shooting them.”
It must really be demeaning for a man or any other sex to feel humiliated to the point that he feels he must prostrate himself in the presence of a criminal whose intent he has no knowledge of. I suppose some who think like John believe that being dressed well enough to qualify as “GQ” material will protect them from criminals.
“Hey, I’m John, you’ve burglarized my home and threatened me and my family but by God don’t you see I’m wearing one of my Bill Blass power suits?”
Yes, John, I’m afraid it’s exactly your elitist mentality that prevents you from understanding that America’s constitution give every law-abiding citizen the individual right to keep and bear arms. And in your state the law allows deadly force against criminal intrusion into your home, as much as that dismays your.
You stick to your belief that expensive attire will protect you and your family from harm; I’ll use whatever lawful means federal and state law allows, thank you.
March 15th, 2008 - 10:39 pm
Lest we forget: the first thing Hitler did before clamping down on the German populace was seize the guns. Armed people are always free.
And when Australia banned guns, armed assault and every kind of violent crime DRASTICALLY increased.
And I love the moralistic comments from the Germans of all people.
How soon we forget.
March 15th, 2008 - 11:03 pm
‘Guns don’t kill people. People with guns kill people.’
How wrong.
People without guns cant kill anyone by using a gun in the first place can they?
If you have access to a gun you might be tempted to use it. A gun will do more harm then any other item (you normally carry with you / have at home). Also having a gun will provoke much more violence which leads to more harm.
People owning guns will lead to more people owning guns… its a vicious circle… remember the cold war?
Guns have no place in a normal household.
March 15th, 2008 - 11:09 pm
Here is a wager: 100 years from now, europe will be disarmed and the new Islamic majority will not be.
America will still be free.
And what is left of the subservient, dhimmi Europeans will still make fun of Americans for having guns.
March 16th, 2008 - 1:06 am
If a gun-control advocate manages to be elected as America’s Chief Executive, say good-bye to one of our Nation’s founding principles; the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, as outlined under the Second Amendment. And so it goes, other Constitutional Rights will be legislated out of existence later, and we will be without recourse; as our means of resistance will have been removed from the equation (willingly!).
The Declaration of Independance states why our Second Amendment is so completely vital and necessary:
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
The Constitution does not grant us the right to free speech, or the right to keep and bear arms. The most important document in the Free World states that those rights are given us by God and are intrinsic to humanity; and that those rights & freedoms shall not be infringed upon, through acts of governance or tyranny.
Without the means to resist, what recourse do we have against a government that has become contrary to the ideals & rights that we hold so dear?
When a large-scale natural or man-made disaster occurs; the general good order of society breaks down, and State/Federal government agencies are unable to respond effectively; who will provide protection to the populace against opportunistic criminals?
And during a time when society is relatively stable, what stands between an opportunistic criminal and a law-abiding citizen, if that citizen’s means (and right!) to defend him/herself has been excised by the government?
I sincerely hope that such a thing never happens to our Nation in mine, or any of my descendant’s, lifetime.
But the first steps have been taken long ago, and continue to be taken by those who seem to take America’s past struggles for granted.
Ah-nold the Governator has signed into law a bill that requires the “microstamping” of matching serial numbers on bullets & brass, and then entered into a database containing the details of the buyer. Ammunition not microstamped is illegal to own, and must be turned in for destruction. Another requirement of this is the manufacture of firearms that microstamp a serial# onto the brass shell each time it is fired; even though the technology to accomplish this doesn’t exist, and would not be possible on some guns such as revolvers. In any case, criminals would quickly learn to use revolvers, or simply collect the fired casings from the crime scene.
Similar bills have already been introduced in several other States, Tennessee & Mississippi being among them. These bills are being pushed through ten States by a lobby-group called “AmmunitionAccountability” for the benefit of manufacturer ACS, or “Ammunition Coding Systems”. While certainly in bed with the many anti-gun advocates, the lobbyists & ACS stand to make millions of dollars if their bills pass.
Not only is this an attempt by companies & individuals to turn a profit, it has been embraced by anti-gun advocates as an alternative to a blanket gun-ban: “If we can’t ban the firearms, then ban the bullets they shoot!”
These proposed laws would instantly criminalize a huge portion of American citizens. It would also effectively cripple or destroy many ammunition & firearms manufacturers, as well as the handloading industry. Thousands of Americans would lose their jobs; and since the price of “lawful” ammunition & firearms would rise significantly to reflect the increased technical difficulty & cost inherent in developing & retooling assembly lines, many citizens would be unable to afford both firearms & ammo.
This back-door approach at total gun-control is largely off the radar of most Americans & their representatives in the government. The mass-media will not report these attacks on our Constitutional Rights, as the mass-media itself is largely on the payroll of anti-gun advocates, both private & public.
Law-abiding & gun-owning citizens are very seriously concerned about the continued preservation of our 2nd Amendment Rights, and seem to be the only demographic who are aware of these issues. The subject of gun-control has been largely untouched by almost all of the Presidential candidates (the exception being Ron Paul). However, the ailing economy is at the forefront of nearly every campaign; and gun-control ties into our economy in a very big way.
But now, we have another Assault Weapons Ban that is far more sweeping and suffocating than the 1994 Clinton/Brady AWB, which expired in 2004.
This new mutated Assault Weapons Ban, titled HR1022 would cripple a large segment of our economy; and all but destroy our Second Amendment Right, coupled with the “Ammunition Accountability” laws.
HR1022-
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1022
The Nation’s economy, which has seen many businesses remove their operations to foreign shores, has maintained this very vital & growing indigenous industry. I know a lot of law-abiding & tax-paying Americans who own firearms-related businesses that are enormously concerned about the threat posed by gun-grabbers, and justifiably so. Since the Clinton-era Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 expired in 2004, the firearms industry has been booming; but if H.R. 1022 & the AA-bill come to pass, the industry will cease to be a major source of stability in our shaky economy. And it (or a later facsimile) will become so, especially if Clinton or Obama are elected. Even John McCain stands with the gun-control advocates on a number of things (assault-weapon bans being one), and H.R. 1022 has a good chance of being signed in one form or another if McCain wins the general election.
The anti-gun movement is still fixated on “assault weapons”, even though it has been proven many times over that military-style semiautomatic rifles account for less than 2% of all violent firearms-related crimes nationwide.
There were ridiculous provisions in the ‘94-’04 AWB, such as the sale & ownership restriction of any semi-automatic rifle with the means to equip a bayonet; the restriction of magazines larger than five rounds; and the ban of any imported semi-automatic rifle bearing a pistol-grip and standard stock which were manufactured with less than 3 US-made components. Such imported firearms required that the stock instead be a “thumbhole” sporter stock. These restrictions present in the ‘94-’04 AWB have been expanded to encompass nearly every semi-automatic firearm in existance.
Since when has anybody heard of anything remotely resembling a drive-by bayoneting?
Even sound suppressors are covered under the National Firearms Act of 1934 as being destructive devices, and aside from the homemade variety (easy to do, and highly illegal), can only be sold to civilians if they pass an expensive, time-consuming, rigorous and extremely strict screening process. Even if a citizen completes the requisite BATF paperwork, FBI background checks, and obtains permission from their local Sheriff/Police Chief, NFA/Class III weapons often cost well over $15,000!
A majority of the most rabid gun-grabbing lawmakers, lobbyists, and citizens have no idea what actually constitutes an “assault weapon”. Even the author of H.R. 1022, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D.-NY), has absolutely no clue as to what her own proposed piece of anti-Constitutional drivel actually details. She is simply acting as the mouthpiece for groups & lobbies like the Joyce Foundation, Brady Campaign, AFL-CIO, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation of Teachers, National Organization for Women, etcetera….
In this video from MSNBC, Carolyn McCarthy describes a “barrel shroud”, and why it constitutes an assault weapon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ospNRk2uM3U
Yet another example of the ignorance (”Heat-Seeking Bullets”???) exhibited by gun-control advocates is this video; featuring a representative of the Freedom States Alliance, who is pushing another back-door assault on our Second Amendment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRQqieimwLQ
The anti-gun lobby is collectively foaming at the mouth over HR1022 & similar bills, and so are the liberals (60 cosponsors) in Congress. While it is still sitting in subcommittee, it will gain support with every Virginia Tech-style shooting. The sad bit is that there are plenty of uninformed & propagandized Americans who sincerely believe, that even in this age of the massive illegal immigrant invasion, rising crime, & terrorism, gun-control is the right thing to do!
The most frightening taste of the future with gun-control advocates having their way was given to us during the Katrina disaster.
Citizens were stripped of their firearms “for their own protection” by police; and as such were then made defenseless against possibly armed looters & criminals.
One of my favorite quotes: “Why do I carry a gun? Because a whole cop would be too heavy!”
A huge joke among those of us who proudly and lawfully own firearms are the ADT/Brinks commercials on TV. Home-invaders are dangerous criminals and often armed. It is ridiculous to assume that one would simply break a window and flee if an alarm sounds. If a confrontation with a home-invader occurs, waiting for the security service to first call, & then contact police can have deadly consequences. Chances are good that responding LEOs may not have any idea of what they are responding to, as they were contacted not by the victims, but by a third-party who was notified by a simple flashing alert on their computer screen; especially if the residents did not answer the security service’s call. The seconds/minutes it takes for ADT/Brinks to conduct this phone-tag add to a busy LEO’s response time.
There are many, many cases of lawfully armed residents killing or injuring would-be burglars, who are often armed as well; and have no compunctions about removing witnesses to their crime, should a confrontation occur. A recent quote that I’ve heard is this;
“Armed robbery is only a trigger-pull away from murder.”
If a burglar/robber is slain or wounded & arrested in the course of a crime, the homeowner has performed a service to their community; and avoided the terrible ordeal of being a defenseless (and possibly dead/injured) victim in their own home.
But I can already hear the gun-control advocate’s retort;
“Think of the children! Guns kill kids, because kids like to play with things! If there’s no guns, kids won’t accidentally shoot themselves or others!”
This is a flimsy & ridiculous reason to not have a gun in the house for self-defense and/or hunting & recreation. Ignorance is the flaw in the gun-control movement’s reasoning; and ignorance is not an excuse to remove other citizen’s rights, simply to theroretically protect them from themselves.
Education is key with firearms!
As a kid, rifles & pistols were always within my reach; but I was taught very thoroughly about the rules & dangers which accompany any gun. I never touched a firearm in my house unless I was given permission and under direct supervision. This is the story with many responsible gun-owners; we all developed a deep respect for firearms, due to the proper education given to us by our parents. With any child; teaching safety, the reinforcement of potential consequences, and familiarization with firearms will firmly plant the knowledge that guns are not toys.
I remember as a kid, handling a gun even while under the supervision of a parent or responsible adult, made me feel somewhat nervous or uneasy. I felt the potential danger inherent in a firearm, and I was acutely aware of how to properly handle and operate one safely. This is something that all kids should feel when looking at/handling a gun; the deep respect (and fear) of the weapon.
Schools & their teacher associations at all levels are pushing anti-gun propaganda onto the children and young adults of our Nation. And it is becoming very effective, as increasing numbers of parents are relying almost completely upon those educational institutions to teach (and even raise!) their kids from day-care/pre-school onward. That said schools are already “Gun-Free Zones”, they are becoming ever larger targets with each child & parent subverted; and each gun-control law put onto the books.
But in the case of H.R. 1022 & the AA law together, there will be no need for firearms education; as firearms (all but the most ineffective) will be removed from the hands of law-abiding citizens, and made available only to criminals & terrorists.
For our Nation to continue in such a fashion is fairly insane! Proof has been made crystalline clear that there is a massive threat from terrorists against our schools. Without the right & ability for the average citizen to protect themselves or help protect others, an attack on an educational institution is a “when” situation, not an “if” situation. The police departments in most small towns are rather glaringly inadequate if asked to deal with such a scenario. And likewise I doubt that any police force, regardless of size & sophistication, would be able to deal with two or more simultaneous, organized criminal or terrorist attacks; at least without military aid/intervention.
Did the Virginia Tech shooter make his assault using “assault” weapons as described in the Clinton-era AWB, or the new H.R. 1022 bill? And would’ve he succeeded had a student or faculty member been lawfully carrying their own defensive firearm? I highly doubt that he would’ve. Since then, many Virginia Tech students have stated that they’d wished someone who was carrying their own firearm was present at the time.
Thousands upon thousands of honest & hard-working Americans will be ruined financially by H.R. 1022; and there will certainly be many who will lose their lives due to their inability to adequately protect themselves & their families if confronted by a violent criminal or terrorist. We’ve got to protect our own, protect our economy, and help protect our nation. This is much larger than just being allowed to own whatever rifle/pistol we choose……
Aurstralia has provided an example of what gun-control can accomplish, and is a shining beacon of the danger posed by gun-control.
It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by a new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be
destroyed by their government; a program costing Australian taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.
The first year results are now in:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent;
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent;
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300
percent. Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and the criminals still possess their guns!
While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in
armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically
upward in the past 12 months, since criminals are now guaranteed prey that is unarmed.
There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the elderly. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was spent in successfully ridding Australian society of guns.
You won’t see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians
disseminating this information.
Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property. Gun-control laws adversely affect only law-abiding citizens.
———————————
It is our duty to educate our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers about the dangers to our Nation. Though it is not my intent to force a pro-gun viewpoint upon others, I believe that through unbiased, fact-based education, American citizens that were previously unaware of the hidden assault against our Constitution, can respond at the voting-booth in line with their own informed belief structures; rather than passing agendas which were reported & given as the only option by the mass-media.
Our Nation could well be entering a very dark time; our homeland, our economy, and our Constitutional Rights are being endangered on many fronts. The worst part is that some of the largest threats are posed by our fellow Americans; who through ignorance or political agenda, are eating away at the foundations of our Nation and society.
The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.
With guns & free-speech, we are ‘citizens’.
Without them, we are ’subjects’ & ’slaves’.
March 16th, 2008 - 2:41 pm
“Here is a wager: 100 years from now, europe will be disarmed and the new Islamic majority will not be.
America will still be free.
And what is left of the subservient, dhimmi Europeans will still make fun of Americans for having guns.”
I’m sorry, but i’m staggered by this. How much more moronic can you make yourself sound?
March 16th, 2008 - 3:19 pm
ok guys, this gets a bit too political and we dont really want people to start fighting each other…sorry but the comments are now closed