Do you think that every individual should have the right to own a gun to protect themselves?

Assume the first yes means "no federal/state/local restrictions whatsoever".

(unfortuantely) yes (with restrictions).  To protect ourselves from unwanted government and the uglier side of humanity.

Absolutely.
I'll even go one step further and say that when you turn 25 the government should issue you a gun.

Hoo boy, a gun control topic. Haven't seen one of those in a while.
 
Anyway, I'll go with "yes with restrictions"

when ppl have guns, ppl use guns, Australia has tight gun controls...why do u think we have less gun violence than the US? Only 5% of Australians own guns, most of them are farmers and ppl in rural areas. Im not saying Australia is perfect but widespread gun ownership (20% and above) in society can only lead to two things crime and death.

No you don't need a gun police is there for that. I live in canada and I have never wanted one or feel the need for one

" when ppl have guns, ppl use guns, Australia has tight gun controls...why do u think we have less gun violence than the US? Only 5% of Australians own guns, most of them are farmers and ppl in rural areas. Im not saying Australia is perfect but widespread gun ownership (20% and above) in society can only lead to two things crime and death. "

Anti-gun Democrat politicians (i.e. Hilary Clinton) like to go on about gun crime and how assault weapons are not reasonable for civilians to own. Meanwhile, they stroll around in armored lemo's and SUV's, and enjoy a sound sleep at night, with Secret Service agents brandishing M4 assault rifles and submachine guns protecting them. 
 
Why is it that they are privileged to such protection yet they would like to deny citizens the same protection within their own home or vehicle? Oh, because they are a VIP and some sort of target? How about the father who pulls a bunch of gang bangers off some poor kid in a park? How well will he get to sleep at night? 
 
The simple fact is that there are over 100 million privately owned firearms in America. There is no changing that. If a criminal wants to get his hands on one, there is not a whole lot standing in his way. In a gun populated society, citizens deserve a right to bear equal arms to their aggressors. This is how things have been for centuries.  
 
Lastly, one must ask what our Forefathers intended when they included the Second Amendment to the Constitution. It is a very simple truth that many liberals try to ignore. It did not have anything to do with hunting or sport. Fearing the future abuse by a government as was experienced with England, they wanted to ensure that citizens would always pose a threat to any governing body so as to avoid dictation as well as defend their right to life, liberty, and property.
 

In their own words: 

 The Constitution preserves "the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation. . . (where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." -- The Federalist, No. 46   

 Alexander Hamilton   

 "[I]f circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their rights and those of their fellow citizens." -- The Federalist, No. 29   

"Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our own defense? Where is the difference between having our arms under our own possesion and under our own direction, and having them under the management of Congress?If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?"

Oh snap.  Founding Fathers FTW

No, because if you give everyone guns, then anybody can use their gun. It only takes one retard to fuck it up. Don't feed the fire.

" when ppl have guns, ppl use guns, Australia has tight gun controls...why do u think we have less gun violence than the US? Only 5% of Australians own guns, most of them are farmers and ppl in rural areas. Im not saying Australia is perfect but widespread gun ownership (20% and above) in society can only lead to two things crime and death. "

Yes, with restrictions.

" @sdauz said:

" when ppl have guns, ppl use guns, Australia has tight gun controls...why do u think we have less gun violence than the US? Only 5% of Australians own guns, most of them are farmers and ppl in rural areas. Im not saying Australia is perfect but widespread gun ownership (20% and above) in society can only lead to two things crime and death. "

What you say is true. Where there are minimal firearms, there is minimal gun crime. Japan and Germany have largely proved this as well. Why is it that they have no firearms you ask? Because they both lost wars are were forced to surrender them. There are extremely tight gun control laws in both of those countries. And, due to the fact that they surrendered their privately owned arms following the wars, there are no longer weapons readily available for criminals to use. This is common sense.  The United States however has more than 100 million privately owned arms and consumes more than 7 billion rounds of ammunition annually. This is a gun culture. There is no amount of restriction or law beyond a mandatory surrender of arms (which would not go well for its enforcers) that will effectively curb gun crime. There are simply too many and too readily available.  While both Japan and Germany, and as you claim Australia, enjoy low gun crime rates, you also do not enjoy the power of the people that the United States does. While not armed nearly as well as a modern military, the people of this nation do pose a potential threat to an abusive government.  The bottom line is that those who rely on the government for protection and are willing to surrender their right to bear arms are relying upon the good nature of their leaders. Sure, you might trust the government to do the right thing now and maybe even in thirty years. It is not about that. It is about protecting future generations from the many horrific scenarios we have bore witness to in history where governments abuse their populace.  "

LMFAO ...   need i say more? "

us humans are wild, fucked up and crazy. 
 
hell no

I was going to enter my opinion in here, but Najaf pretty much summed it up for me. 
Granted that America is very much a "gun culture" as opposed to some other countries. But the simple fact is that there are no statistics to show that an increase in guns shows a direct positive correlation to an increase in crime (in the US). That's fact. I'm a Democrat, but those are still the facts.  
 

@Bioderm

" No you don't need a gun police is there for that. I live in canada and I have never wanted one or feel the need for one "

Absolutely.
 
My family and I own more than 10 firearms, including pistols, rifles, carbines, and shotguns.
  
But oh no, the statistics say we must be violent criminals because we own guns. Crap. 

" Absolutely.  My family and I own more than 10 firearms, including pistols, rifles, carbines, and shotguns.    But oh no, the statistics say we must be violent criminals because we own guns. Crap.  "

I'm not American so my say in this debate won't help much. but people seem to forget that the 'Founding Fathers' were around 200 years ago! That was an age without a standardised police force, where laws were just beginning to be established, without easily accessible communication so yeah, guns were probably a good idea at the time. 
 
Also  emkeighcameron, have you needed those 10 firearms to protect yourself? And why the need for so many, are you preparing for a Left 4 Dead situation where you need that many guns to protect yourself?
 
I'm not trying to attack those who voted yes (because, let's face it, you guys have fricken guns!) but it just seems like gun ownership is an antiquated law that should no longer exist.

" @emkeighcameron said:

" Absolutely.  My family and I own more than 10 firearms, including pistols, rifles, carbines, and shotguns.    But oh no, the statistics say we must be violent criminals because we own guns. Crap.  "

Just because your family won't shoot anyone else, doesn't mean no one else will. Why the fuck do you need 10 firearms? No one needs guns to protect themselves. Protect themselves from what?  Really. "

No, that's just... urgh... no.

baseball bat is good enough

No, period. Cops shouldn't even have them, they should be given more non-lethal weaponry. Nothing that actually kills.

I figure this is mostly a poll for Americans. 
I have a feeling us non-americans will throw off the result... 

Nah.

" @lamegame621: Criminals? I've never once encountered a 'criminal' with a gun. Maybe it's different over there with your absolutely stupid gun laws, but here in the UK it is very rare. Are you just going to shoot someone who comes into your house? What if he's unarmed?  "

idiots should not own guns
 
unfortunately most of us are idiots

Yes, I have serveral guns and will use them to protect myself if necessary. It is our right as Americans to own them.

" @sdauz said:

" when ppl have guns, ppl use guns, Australia has tight gun controls...why do u think we have less gun violence than the US? Only 5% of Australians own guns, most of them are farmers and ppl in rural areas. Im not saying Australia is perfect but widespread gun ownership (20% and above) in society can only lead to two things crime and death. "

you sir, are wrong  actual scientific studies show that countries with more widespread gun ownership actually have less violent crimes as compared to countries with less gun ownership.  BAM  "

i vote yes with restrictions.
 
the major problem i see is that the possibility of owning a gun means you could potentially use that gun to harm others.  all weapons are a responsibility of the holder, knives and other stabbing weapons, explosives. do i have faith in a majority of humanity to peacefully coexist with weapons? yes. do i fully trust everyone to morally carry something as lethal as a firearm? absolutely not.

Guns are for wimps. Every man should have a T-72 tank in their garage.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-72 Can be bought in Eastern Europe for the prize of a new car.

In a country that has never advocated for the use of firearms I would say no by all means. Even though I love guns for the technology behind them I just can't trust anyone with a gun at all. Gun crimes in Ireland have raised over the past two years but they've died down for the time being. Although a very select few police members use guns most are only used for high security measures. I think they're using tasers (tazers or tasars?) now.

How many criminals do you think are going to mug someone who is visibly carrying a gun?

Outlawing any goods or services simply results in a black market for said goods or services - drugs being the prime example.  There is already a black market for the types of guns already outlawed.  Does anyone really think outlawing guns (considering this point as well as the number of guns already out there) will prevent criminals from acquiring them?

These topics are always a bit amusing on a forum with such international presence.  
 
Yes, I have the right to own a firearm, and yes, I have friends who are collectors or enthusiasts who have more firearms than I've cared to count.  Responsible gun ownership and the proper respect for them has been part of my life as long as I can really remember.  A big cultural difference i suppose.

You can either go the way of everyone having them, or no one having them. I'd rather the protection against zombies, but that's just me.

Guns don't kill people, people kill people.

Obligatory:
 
 

No, because I dont believe that most of the population, especially those in the US, are mentally-sane enough to own something like that.

No, no and no never stupid idea paranoid idots NEVER!

I don't think people should be allowed to own guns, even though I enjoy using a gun. I think people would have a much better time using swords, knives, and bows.
 
I may be biased because of my skill at using a bow...
 
 
Edit: For anyone who saw my original post, ignore what I said. I wasn't paying attention.

"No you don't need a gun police is there for that. I live in canada and I have never wanted one or feel the need for one "

" There are many people out there that are mentally and/or emotionally unsound...
...Other than officers of the law, noone should wield one. "