Is it WRONG to own guns, rifles, swords, knives, etc.?

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And my argument is that the US government is not some lunatic junta out to subjugate the masses into slavery and oppression. America is a free society, and their government was and always will be democratically elected. And besides, a handful of rebels and insurgents who are unhappy will always be dealt with, no matter how well armed they are. Paul Revere isn't here yelling 'The British are coming', and Lincoln's Gettysburg address is history. We are now in modern day society, whether it be the US, Australia, England or China; and the threat of the oppression snake is talking about is non-existent.

The US government regularly oppresses it's
citizens. Moreover, at least SOME of the founding
fathers thought that overthrowing the government
now and again was a necessity. Indeed, the reign of
Lincoln is one of the most clear examples of just how
badly the government treats it's people. Unfortunately,
that war was lost by the side of freedom, and it's too late
now to return to any semblance of the truly radical experiment
which this country once was.

There have been good points raised here, amidst the bickering and name-calling and US bashing. I favor the second amendment because banning guns is pre-optimizing the larger problem of gun crime. For a while after citizens in the UK turned in their guns, home invasions spiked. Some people were killed.

Saying we have police in the US to handle criminals is partly true. I think they do the best they can, overall. However, on a few occasions I have had police ignore my call for help, show up an hour later or drive past without stopping. Too often people in poor areas are left to fend for themselves unless the news media steps in for a sweeps month to focus on the problem. In spite of that, it is still better to call the police than not, but the police are not enough to justify a gun ban.

On the other hand, the US military has the power to overpower the general population with military force at anytime. The only reason we are still free is that we teach our children loyalty to the country and liberty, not the government. Keeping guns to overthrow a corrupt government is not practical. We are outgunned and out-organized. Try to get 20 million people anywhere to do one thing, and you'll go crazy in no time.

And no, not everybody with a gun in the US goes around shooting everyone else. That statement warrants an apology. I've never owned a gun, but I want the option if I need it.

It is impossible for any nation to keep guns away from the people who want them, even if some of those people are mentally deranged. There are people in China caught with illegal guns.

In the US, if a person breaks into your home, you have the legal right to assume the person is armed and intends to use deadly force. However, the best tactic is to bar the bedroom door and call the police. If you have a gun, yell through the door "Stay out! I have a gun and I've called the police. I will shoot to kill" and aim the gun at the door with the hammer cocked. Don't shoot unless someone tries to force the door. Put the gun away when the police arrive and do exactly what they say. That's how a gun can be used for self-defense without threatening society in general.

As for walking around at night, I walk to Wal-Mart at 2 am with no problems (southern Indiana). I've also walked home through Maplewood and Roseville (north of St. Paul, Minnesota) at 3 am with no issues except tired feet.

I'd like a world where guns aren't needed, but they are needed in some situations for now. Most gun owners are people who understand and respect their responsibilities. If I see one who isn't, I can spell 911 and get the police.

Unfortunately, the stereotype has been created that a gun owner will more than like try to be a hero than a responsible person, because we see this all the time in the media. It can't be ignored, so we can only go by what we are shown day in and day out. Plus the fact that too many of these weapons are too readily available to anyone who can get a permit and who has the cash. How many cases also are there where people have their guns stolen from their homes, or their children take them to school and they are stolen from their bags? Far too many I would imagine. The only safe weapon is no weapon at all, because as has been said, they are only designed for one purpose, and that is to kill. Worrying about corrupt police or corrupt governments is just another excuse to justify a 'need' which really isn't relevant in today's society. Maybe I am lucky living in Australia where we don't have the corruption that you guys do. That makes it all the better for me, but it still means that you guys have a long way to go.

More than half, I'd say.

Stereotypes are poor reflections of the groups they misrepresent. Most people do not carry firearms looking for people to kill. Most people do not jump into every gunfight they see. Frankly, I find it disappointing that the US is repeatedly portrayed as a lawless "Wild West" shoot-'em-up and that we are portrayed as irresponsible killers based on rumors, innuendo and non-news TV shows.

I demand an apology.