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"...the right to keep and bear arms..." - This is one of the main reasons people think I'm crazy for moving to the US. I guess that as an European I just can't understand how (and why) it could/should be anyones right to carry weapons.
A cultural difference I bet, but I know it will be hard to get used to.
The first time I ever saw a gun was when I as a 16-year old was an exchange student in Virginia. My host dad proudly showed me an old family gun. I remember being extremely freaked out about the fact that I had to live in a house with a gun in it. At home I don't know anyone that have any kind of weapon - except for kitchen knifes and such. And yes, I'm a city-kid so I don't know anyone that hunts.
Having a rifle or such for hunting I get, it's the "I need to casually carry a weapon in case I might need to defend myself from a fellow man" I don't get. I might be extremely naive, but should we not try to minimize the amounts of weapons instead of making it okay to carry them around?
I hope this post is not viewed as too political by any means. I'm just fascinated by the cultural difference, and since I'm moving to Idaho I would like to know what I get myself into.
"...the right to keep and bear arms..." - This is one of the main reasons people think I'm crazy for moving to the US. I guess that as an European I just can't understand how (and why) it could/should be anyones right to carry weapons.
A cultural difference I bet, but I know it will be hard to get used to.
The first time I ever saw a gun was when I as a 16-year old was an exchange student in Virginia. My host dad proudly showed me an old family gun. I remember being extremely freaked out about the fact that I had to live in a house with a gun in it. At home I don't know anyone that have any kind of weapon - except for kitchen knifes and such. And yes, I'm a city-kid so I don't know anyone that hunts.
Having a rifle or such for hunting I get, it's the "I need to casually carry a weapon in case I might need to defend myself from a fellow man" I don't get. I might be extremely naive, but should we not try to minimize the amounts of weapons instead of making it okay to carry them around?
I hope this post is not viewed as too political by any means. I'm just fascinated by the cultural difference, and since I'm moving to Idaho I would like to know what I get myself into.
/joox
Its funny the places that have more guns in the US have the least amount of crime.. Even in Europe the places that have outright banned guns have seen increases in crime.. An armed society is a polite society..
I think you should REALLY consider staying in Europe if your going to get freaked out anytime you see a gun...
"...the right to keep and bear arms..." - This is one of the main reasons people think I'm crazy for moving to the US. I guess that as an European I just can't understand how (and why) it could/should be anyones right to carry weapons.
A cultural difference I bet, but I know it will be hard to get used to.
/joox
Joox, we should probably not get too heavily into this discussion. Too political. But it's something I'd be really happy to talk over with you over a local Idaho beer some day, or a cup of tater juice--I know where you're coming from, and it took me years to change my mind and understand the 2nd Amendment and its implications. One needs to understand the unique history of the US, as well as some statistics they just never tell you about in Europe...It will take some getting used to, but try to think of private, good people owning guns as a way to keep you safe, rather than a way to endanger you. Particularly in the West it is an essential part of one's entire concept of liberty. Maybe we can talk about this privately.
"...the right to keep and bear arms..." - This is one of the main reasons people think I'm crazy for moving to the US. I guess that as an European I just can't understand how (and why) it could/should be anyones right to carry weapons.
A cultural difference I bet, but I know it will be hard to get used to.
The first time I ever saw a gun was when I as a 16-year old was an exchange student in Virginia. My host dad proudly showed me an old family gun. I remember being extremely freaked out about the fact that I had to live in a house with a gun in it. At home I don't know anyone that have any kind of weapon - except for kitchen knifes and such. And yes, I'm a city-kid so I don't know anyone that hunts.
Having a rifle or such for hunting I get, it's the "I need to casually carry a weapon in case I might need to defend myself from a fellow man" I don't get. I might be extremely naive, but should we not try to minimize the amounts of weapons instead of making it okay to carry them around?
I hope this post is not viewed as too political by any means. I'm just fascinated by the cultural difference, and since I'm moving to Idaho I would like to know what I get myself into.
/joox
Hey Joox, ever been to Switzerland? The whole country is armed. It's a citizen's duty. They also have low crime and polite people. Oh and by the way they are the only country in Europe that Hitler didn't mess with during that little fracas they had over there between 1939 and 1945. You know, the war! You must of heard of it. Just think of Idaho as Switzerland by the Rockies. Just subsistute their cheese for our potatoes. After all potatoes make a better brew...and armed citizens make a free and brave people. cadillac 811
You gotta love a state that's bold enough to elect a governor with a name like C.L. "Butch" Otter.
Yeah, well...we also elected Larry Craig.
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But it's something I'd be really happy to talk over with you over a local Idaho beer some day, or a cup of tater juice--I know where you're coming from, and it took me years to change my mind and understand the 2nd Amendment and its implications. One needs to understand the unique history of the US, as well as some statistics they just never tell you about in Europe...It will take some getting used to, but try to think of private, good people owning guns as a way to keep you safe, rather than a way to endanger you. Particularly in the West it is an essential part of one's entire concept of liberty. Maybe we can talk about this privately.
