Logan what logic does it make that an American national can have any weapon he deems necessary but yet the Iranian Nation or people cannot? You might be right about your history but as we know while the US went from one administration to another for 232 years now, the Eujropean countries from which we originally sprung have had individual dictatorships, party dictatorships, alternate republics vs. monarchy, civil wars etcetera. As in Italy, Germany, Russia, Poland, France and Spain. Given their history I think we should be thankful we have gotten along as we have. Your argument about inalienable rights to have anything we want sure does sound fine and convincing. It simply lacks any common sense. Name a society where one individual had more fire power than the rest of the individuals combined. If you find one then I am sure it was a dictatorship of one.

There is some apparent debate in Swizerland about gun ownership. The lawful American gun culture should not be messed with. I inherited my current arsenal. I did have a 22 rifle as a kid. If someone or government tried to take my guns away from me I would be offended. I got along fine before I got these guns and get along fine now also. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT NO ONE IS TRYING TO DISARM LAWFUL DEER GUNS AND HAND GUNS FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. It is a non-issue. Our time at public discourse could be better spent but we must deal with the cards we are dealt. I had a Colonel friend who was a West Point Graduate and another who was a Canadian Police Detective. I thought it interesting that these two told me that they never had weapons in their homes. The West Pointer did say that he might take up gunning for deer when he retired to Colorado.

Jimmy government by discussion is what we are doing right now. Just as the purchasing decisions of each of us dictates what products are mfg. and distributed to us so are our poltical thoughts, sentiments and opinions communicated via public opinion polls, suveys, and by the voting booth to our legislators and administrators. Mike it is sad that you do not the think that the Army, the National Guard, is somehow not us, We The People. It shows just how far you have sunk in the mire of your sick philosophy and how little faith you have in America. Mike if you would get out more you might find many of your neighbors are Guard Members, or FBI agents, IRS agents etcetera and you might loose your bunker mentality.

Jimmy it is you that has got to learn to think. The quote says that "a people armed and free FORMS a barrier". The quote drips with the sentiment of organization and unity of the people against domestic and foreign enemies. It does not say that a person or any person armed and free forms a barrier. In America no one group has ever, to my knowledge tried, to take over any city, county, or state let alone the Feds, let us keep it that way. There have been assainations but if you conspire to take on democratic system by force of arms historically you won't get to many to go along with you. There is good reason for that in my opinion. It is because of the overwheling sense of goodwill we have in our way of doing things. Except for the lunatic fringe. America is celebrated as the oldest democracy in the world with a peaceful transition from one electiong to the next. Once we start using arms instead of discussion as our principal source of persuasion we will be lost.

Jim I really appreciate your interest in my opinion especially since you think they are usually meaningless. RobertSRQ and Anonymous from Reston are on the right track. An unhealthy attitude towards guns is that of the city dweller who thinks killing deer is some type of crime and that those who do it are animals. On the gun lovers side it is those who believe guns are to protect yourself from law enforcement. Have you never heard of Ruby Ridge? Is y'alls logic about taking on the government any different to that guy (now deceased) who blew up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City? I think not and that is what I mean by sick. Many I know gave up their memberships in the NRA after life times of membership because the NRA is sick. There are good organizations like The North American Hunting Club, Ducks's Unlimited that promote hunting and gunning with a healthy attitude. Any thought that guns are to attack our government is sick. Robert is correct, we have a government by discussion (democracy), words are more powerful than the sword. Some on here speak of natural law or natural rights, when folks speak up for the truth like MLK did or Ghandi did they get results because they have truth and conviction, no guns are necessary. Jim I have six hand guns, and a deer slug rifle. I play with a little bit of hunting but I am not accomplished. The mentally healthy hnuters I know never talk about taking on the government or that they should be allowed to have nukes. The guy from Reston is right about this. Ideologues like Archer are destroying this country.

I give it a 3. This was probably true in 1787 but of course our standing Army today can take on all comers. The reason the people in America have never had to resort to violence against our government(s) is because we are a nation of democracy (government by discussion) and law.

The key word here is "forms". The armed people must be organized as in a militia. Private attacks against perceived oppression usually results in one being blown away, as at Ruby Ridge.

A healthy attitude towards arms is a good thing, unfortunately some on both sides of the private arms issue are sick.

Chaz people above are saying that guns in private hands are for fighting the US Government. Isn't that what the Taliban and Al Qaeda are doing? It would appear that if all you enemies of the US Government got together you could have a better go at it.

Hand guns are the opiate of a few deranged individuals. In them they think they have power. They don't. As we disarm or neutralize the Sunni and Shiite militias and threaten Iran due to its nuke dreams where does any one get off or come from thinking that an American can own any weapon he cares to. If you feel that way I think you should be over there fighting alongside the Taliban and Al Qaeda against the US. Archer read, read, read more carefully my friend. Florio did not say he had the right he said society had the right.

Editor I apologize the fact that you say this quote is QUESTIONABLE did not previously register with me. I guess it is not per Henry questionable it is false. Seems it should be removed from your library.

Thanks Henry I am glad someone is on the ball. If you research the comments at the time he signed this you will find that the testcularly challenged former Presidents Reagan and Bush The First, who could have done something to move this legislation along did nothing. When the guy with the cahones ran for election he said that he would sign the bill and then on 11/30/93 he did. The aforementioned testicularly challenged said, "Yeah that is good law, it is just common sense." Editor, have you anything more the source of this comment? Mike if you are reading you will have found that this has nothing to do with taking away peoples guns.

Editor: I just read the entirety of Clinton's words "Remarks on sigining the Brady Bill", at findarticles.com. I found no such quote either by reading it or by doing a "find on this page". I searched for the string "there is no reason" and for the string "anyone in this country". They both resulted in no hits. Is this quote simply a "hot mike" quote? Are we going to be philosophizing on asides and not for syndication type quotes. Just throwing bones to the rabid among us.

You thumbs down guys are apparently non-thinking today. Many products you buy say that it is unlawful to use in a manner other than specified on the label. Are you against that also? How about anthrax and chlorine gas? With your attitudes you are apparently for all of that stuff. Isn't it amazing that we spend our trillions to go all over the world to destroy the weapons in the hands of non-government and anti-government forces like the Taliban and Al Qaida and we have just as many idiots here.

You thumbs down guys (I did not read all of your post Logan, I am sorry but its' length scared me) I believe, mostly said "The reason to own a handgun is because it is legal." You prove Clintons point that there is no (or not much) reason to own a handgun except that it is legal. It would have been refreshing if you had some reasons. Mike you said that their are many reasons without giving even one, please don't insult our intelligence. Thanks anonymous, fu. I will look for the original quote. Do any of you guys know about the law in Concealed Carry States? My question is, if a law is passed saying that concealed carry is legal does that mean that open carry is and has always been legal in those states? Is it therefore lawful to carry your handgun in a visible holster?It would seem to be the logical consequence. Isn't it interesting how that in the wild wild west they disarmed the folks when they came into town by making them leave their guns at the Sheriffs Office or by checking them before entering the saloon. We might be able to learn something from the reasonable and responsible folks of our great west. When I back pack I always carry a pistol.

PS: Clinton gets 5 stars for courage (even if you think he was wrong) for taking on the gun lobby on this issue. I think Bush the First complained about too many handguns in the ghetto but had no b@#$% to do anything about it.

Some of us more superior types however just might want to have a go at it.

In Illinois it is illegal to take a handgun into the woods when you are deer hunting. I don't know about other states. Hand guns have limited usefulness. I have six of them and have never used them except for a little bit of target practice. Most folks probably can not hit the broad side of you know what with a handgun. I made a mistake, once when my garage door opened mysteriously I investigated with a handgun hidden behind my back. I figured if some one saw it pointing at them they just might fire first. I think Clinton is partly right that there is not much of a reason to own a handgun but that is not to say that there is not a right and as we know many people choose to do unreasonable things. I give it a 3 for reasoning and withhold 2 stars because he should have said "not much reason".

Well said Archer. The people who are living off the taxation of others are those who would break the tax laws while letting their friends and neighbors shoulder the responsibility of paying for their defense etc. Getting the benefits of citizenship and government for free.

I think he is trying to say that the universe of our rights is much larger than what is encompassed by the Bill of Rights. The main relationship of the individual to the Constitution and the government, which it empowered, is the phrase and I paraphrase, "powers not given to the government of the United States are left to states and/or individuals". Noah was being facetious! I give him 5 stars for a comedian.

Amen. If we eliminated the written and visible trappings of our society or state we would still have the unwritten trappings of social mores (the content of their hearts). Native Americans and South Sea Islanders all had social mores without these documents. That is why in democracy (government by discussion) these things can be Amended and modified and it is said that "law is a living thing" it evolves with the lives of its adherents.

True. And when we are that way we are secure because we are united. This unity will end malicious competition and venality (American Greed) in the financial markets which has caused so much of our problems. Is it honest, truthful and virtuous that heads of oil companies receive a $35 million salary while we suffer with absurd and irrational fuel costs and CEO's of Fannie and Freddie also recieve huge salaries. If they need bail out then the CEO's should be dumped.

The democratic principle is that each indivi is of equal worth to every other indiv including the right to have a say in a government by discussion. In a democracy the state in effect withers away because the people are the state. In monarchy or dictatorship the King and his henchmen are the State. They and their apparatus operate in secret and without any approval from the people, thus the State is a real type of alient to the people force. In a democratic governmetn operated under sunshine laws such a secretive, manipulative org like All The Kings Men does not exist. Common law rights and the bill of rights for starters.

is it okay and a basic freedom to kill moutanin gorillas. Yes or no!

I live in a small peaceful town. Fifty miles from an interstate. My father use to live on the side of the Sierra Nevada. I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and lived in the Chicago metro for 25 years. I like both environments. I believe it foolish to look down on city dwellers just because I feel so fortunate to live on 1/3 acre and many of my friends live on between 10-300. My peace and tranquility would be shatterd if all the city folks moved out here. So I support and hope the best for them and hope they stay where they are. Studies show that more and more are moving that way rather than this way.