[Cerek]

Aragorn - Americans DO have the RIGHT to bear arms. It is explicitly stated in our Constitution. So yes, we DO feel it is a right rather than a privilege.

mad=dog - Guns are NOT designed to kill or harm humans. I've fired many guns in my time and own two handguns, but I've never fired at another human being. I HAVE shot a crap-load of cans and bottles over the years and that is the main reason I own a gun at all, because I enjoy target shooting.

I did keep my guns loaded in the house for self-defense because I had an incident in college where an armed person came into my parents driveway at 1am and looked towards the house. He was running from the police and I could see his face very clearly. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that he considered coming into the house and trying to take us hostage. I also have NO DOUBT that the reason he chose to run the other way is because of the possibility that the homeowner MIGHT have a gun of his own (and he was right, my dad had him in the sights of his pistol when he looked towards the house).

So guns DO have plenty of uses OTHER than just harming and killing humans.