USa, guns, suicide, gun control, religion. Question

[fedup1982]

I guess this is a question semi targeted at religious people in the USA and so called "Gun Nuts". Or just anyone in the USA who can enlighten me I guess.

There's something I don't understand. On the one hand USA seems to be all about the sanctity of life. Now, let's ignore the mass school shootings. Since so many people kill themselves with guns, I don't understand how a people can be so pro life yet... Not ban guns? What am I not understanding about the USA?

 

[TBONTB]

I guess this is a question semi targeted at religious people in the USA and so called "Gun Nuts". Or just anyone in the USA who can enlighten me I guess.

There's something I don't understand. On the one hand USA seems to be all about the sanctity of life. Now, let's ignore the mass school shootings. Since so many people kill themselves with guns, I don't understand how a people can be so pro life yet... Not ban guns? What am I not understanding about the USA?

US Citizen here, neither a gun owner more religious myself. Your observation is spot on.

The tradition that underlies both religious independence and gun ownership go to the "founding fathers". The importance of religion was key to the countries founding, as was the ability of each citizen to arm themselves in the case of an unjust government.

So these things kind of get tied together in a conservative political philosophy. It's ties to independence, self-sufficiency, and sometimes an anti-government leanIng. On the surface gun and religion don't go together great, but they both represent a look back to values from the countries origin story

So these religious values cause this strong pro-life philosophy, while the political ideology of independence argues for everyone to get a gun.

Interestingly, one of the arguments for guns is "we have to be able to protect ourselves". As guns have become ubiquitous I've gone from saying "that's silly, guns are more risk to you than anyone else" to thinking "jmmm...maybe I need a gun"

The conservative culture was fed by thinkers starting in the 1980s, and of course I amplified by am social media today.

So yep, your description rings a bell. I feel the US is looking crazier and crazier all the time.

 

[fedup1982]

US Citizen here, neither a gun owner more religious myself. Your observation is spot on.

The tradition that underlies both religious independence and gun ownership go to the "founding fathers". The importance of religion was key to the countries founding, as was the ability of each citizen to arm themselves in the case of an unjust government.

So these things kind of get tied together in a conservative political philosophy. It's ties to independence, self-sufficiency, and sometimes an anti-government leanIng. On the surface gun and religion don't go together great, but they both represent a look back to values from the countries origin story

The conservative culture was fed by thinkers starting in the 1980s, and of course I amplified by am social media today.

So yep, your description rings a bell. I feel the US is looking crazier and crazier all the time.

Thank you for your kind, thoughtful and clear response! That cleared up my question more succinctly than I thought possible lol but yeh that makes sense. As I see it, every society has its quirks, its roots, and it takes some time to iron out the kinks assuming it's really possible to do at all

 

[SomedayorNexttime]

Like TBONTB said, it's a part of the history and therefore a conservative value in the USA. "Right to revolt" and whatnot, 2nd Amendment, etc.

I also want to add that lots of people argue that guns aren't the problem, "the people are," and for some reason that's watertight so nothing changes. And too many people like having easy access to them since it makes them feel strong and safer. Criticizing gun accessibility gets you a lot of mockery from conservative types, and they commonly say "criminals will get guns and then we can't defend ourselves," but other places don't seem to have that kind of problem.

I personally think that making guns a "right" was a huge mistake regardless of the history, and they shouldn't have gone as far as to make killing machines accessible to the public. Guns shouldn't be in everyone's hands and you can see that lots of problems can be solved if you just don't let people purchase them like they're cars. But people here insist on keeping them, so they stay. What can you do

 

[gottacheckout]

I'm just as concerned with the federal government than the criminals. When the right to bear arms was discussed 250 years ago it was primarily so the populace could rise up against the government if it became too powerful. We just got our freedom from a controlling government that didn't allow the citizens a right to representation.

The Declaration of Independence says that we not only have the right but we also have the duty to alter or abolish any government that does not secure our unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

I grew up on a ranch and guns were just another tool. A very useful tool when tracking down a calf and a bear or mountain lion or bobcat want it. The ranch was sold decades ago but I do a lot of backwoods camping and always have my sig on my hip. Hell anymore I find it there more often than not. I can ccw in 38 states, was forced to get it because the government decided that I had to carry my gun locked in one spot and bullets or magazines locked in another one that I couldn't normally reach. When you are on a dirt bike that is impossible.

I'll support your decision to not own a gun and expect the same courtesy for my decision to own them.