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Protecting Your Life Poll

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What many people outside of the United States, and quite a few people within the US, don’t understand is that the US constitution doesn’t guarantee anyone any rights at all. Instead, it limits what the government can do to hinder the rights that are given to every person by God. Among those rights is the right to life. The second amendment to the Constitution prevents the government from impeding a person from having or carrying a firearm in order to protect their own life and the lives of their loved ones.

This can be a point of misunderstanding for people who don’t live within the US, as well as a large number of people who do live here. It should also be noted that gun-related homicides in the US are rare. This is a nation of over 325 million people, over 100 million of them being legal gun owners. Of the ~30,000 gun-related deaths per year in the US, two-thirds are suicides. Most of the rest are people who are killed while committing a violent crime, shootings during drug deals, gang against gang violence, or accidents. Realistically, that leaves between 1,000 and 3,000 people killed in homicides per year. Meanwhile, about 3 million crimes per year are prevented with the use of firearms. That is a thousand crimes prevented for every death.

This poll is primarily aimed at people in other countries. It is still valid for people within the US, though. It would be helpful if you mentioned what country you lived in, to get a better idea of the meaning of the poll results.

  • Question of

    If an armed person breaks into your home and makes it clear that they are going to harm you or your family, what would you do?

    • I’d do nothing and would let them do whatever they wanted
    • I’d try to call the police and/or wait for the police to arrive
    • I’d do whatever I could to protect myself and/or my family from harm
    • Other
  • Question of

    True or False: In my country, people aren’t allowed to protect themselves or their families.

    • True
    • False; they can protect themselves, than just can’t legally use a gun to do it.
    • False; they can protect themselves by whatever means necessary.
  • Question of

    Did you previously know that the US constitution doesn’t grant rights to citizens, it simply limits what the government can do in regard to the rights they already have?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Did you previously know that a thousand times as many crimes are prevented by guns than homicide victims of guns in the US?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Do you believe that people have the right to protect themselves and their loved ones?

    • Yes
    • No

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What do you think?

4 Points

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ConstitutionGunsProtectionright to lifesecond amendment

Written by Rex Trulove

27 Comments

  2. I think everyone needs to protect his family and property.Unfortunately,this is not legal in Serbia.We do not have the right to use a weapon if someone enters our house and is robbed.If a greater force is applied than the one that the burglar applies to us, then we go to jail.So, if he holds a knife and peacefully rob your house, you must not use more force unless it attacks you directly and endangers your life…even then you must undo it with the same force.If you shoot him with a gun … you go to jail .I am for laws like in America.

    1

    • A lot of people also don’t understand that there are also consequences in the US. We also have to use the least amount of force necessary, too. There is considerably more leeway than in many places, though.

      A lot of things are considered. For example, if a 250-pound burglar with a knife lunges at a 100-pound girl, she can shoot him. It is likely that she will be arrested and fingerprinted, but it is just as likely that she will be allowed to leave at that point.

      Women are also allowed to defend themselves against rape, even if it involves using a gun to stop the person who is trying to rape her at knife-point.

      What I find extremely interesting is that of the 3 million times a year that guns are used to prevent the commission of a crime, it is quite rare for those guns to be discharged. Most criminals run when they are confronted by a gun. The person doesn’t even need to pull the trigger. Sometimes it is necessary, but not often.

      Several years ago, a group of three burglars had been breaking into a number of homes in a town in Texas. They’d stake out the house and break in when there was the least chance of getting caught or shot (most of the residents had guns).

      They staked out one particular home and waited until the only person in the house was a 14-year-old girl. That was when they broke in. It was an enormous mistake. What they didn’t know was that the frail little girl was also the state shotgun champion, junior division. She shot all three men, though the only one she killed was one who reached for his handgun after being shot the first time. She shot him again.

      It turns out that two of the three men had been previously been arrested for rape. One of the surviving burglars even admitted that after the burglary, they’d planned to ‘have fun’ with the girl. In that case, no charges were even brought against the girl.

        • I’m afraid that is the influence of Socialistic and Communistic regimes in the area. The last thing in the world that this type of governing body wants is people who have guns, rights to protect themselves, and self-sufficiency. One of the first steps for any government who want to totally control its populations is to take away their guns and means of defending themselves.

          • During communism, none of us had weapons in the house..There was very little crime.Belgrade was a safe city. There were ,,smal,, thieves..but they were all familiar to the police.When Yugoslavia broke up … everything changed.Crime has risen … mafia, drugs, prostitution, murders ..I’m afraid democracy has not brought us much good.

            1

        • I can understand the lack of crime. The same would happen if martial law was declared here. When people are free, they sometimes make bad choices. Because of that, there is often a small segment of criminals and malcontents. When people lose their freedom, the choices are taken away from them, both good and bad. Under the threat of being thrown in jail or much worse, the criminal element still exists but is more secretive and careful. If any are killed, it also prevents them from committing another crime.

          1

        • Actually, the right is given when a person is born and regardless of the constitution. The constitution merely prevents the government from taking that God-given right away. The right to vote is a little different. Until the Republicans fought for it, women couldn’t vote and neither could blacks, American Indians and so forth.

          1

          • Well that is what I meant. But my late husband used to say “By the time they give us the right to vote for something, the vote becomes meaningless.” You would have liked him. His motto was “Silence Implies Consent.”

            1

        • Well, silences DOES imply consent. Of course, there are far too many people who open their mouths without having any idea of what they are talking about. Quite a large number of those get into politics.

          1

    • Thank you. The US isn’t the only place where people have the right to defend themselves, however, in some places, defending yourself can land a person in jail, regardless of the tool that is used.

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