"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." - 2nd Amendment

Many people forget the meaning and true purpose of the 2nd Amendment, which was not to protect against the average criminal or to hunt, but to be able to defend against a tyrannical government.  In today's standards to some people that may seems “extreme" or "radical".  Some even try to interpret it to mean only a militia can have firearms and since the states rely on the National Guard now, then only the National Guard should have guns.  This interpretation is easily denounced when we remember some of the quotes by our founding fathers:

      "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson

 "The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; . . . that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed." - Thomas Jefferson

"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." – Alexander Hamilton

"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed – unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." – James Madison

"A strong body makes a strong mind. As to the species of exercise I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion of your walks." – Thomas Jefferson

 Beside the support for firearms by the founding fathers just look at the statistics.  According to David Bergland's book Libertarianism In One Lesson:  In the years to follow after Washington D.C. outlawed handguns in 1976 homicides increased 200%.   40% of criminals are scared there impending victims would be carrying a firearm, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.  Every year there are 2.5 million occasions where firearms are used in self-defense, according to criminologist Gary Kleck.  The 1996 study by Dr. John Lott and David Mustard of the University of Chicago found "In every county from 1972 to 1992, shows that, where concealed carry is legal, murders were down 8.5%, rapes 5%, and aggravated assault 7%."   Using the 1996 study, David Bergland estimates "1,570 murders per year would be avoided, along with 4,200 rapes and 60,000 severe assaults."  When looking at the State of Florida and Texas, when they legalized concealed carry of firearms there homicide rates dropped.  Florida by 39% and Texas by 34%.  Also, according to Reason Magazine, of all the guns sold at gun shows and flea markets less than 2% of them are used in a crime.

 The 2nd Amendment is the protector of all the other Amendments, and to loose it would become disastrous.  We have seen the erosion of our gun rights little by little.  At the time it seems harmless, and only affects a small percentage of gun owners.  It's as time goes on and we look back at all the freedoms we can no longer enjoy, that the erosion seems monstrous.  Most likely if the erosion of our gun rights were to have taken place all at once we would have made a stand.  With that said, we must defend every single gun right no matter how small it may seem at the time, or we will witness the death of the 2nd Amendment.

 Many pro-gun advocates have a hard time taking an extreme defense to the 2nd Amendment.  There seems to be something holding them back, as if they want to attempt to control people.  You have to remember that criminals will always have guns.  You can't make laws for people that don't follow the law.  This is the reason we must repeal all 20,000 existing gun laws, and allow people to own tanks, machine guns, or bazookas with zero governmental oversight.  If someone has a million acres of land and wants a tank for target practice, then they should be able to have that. The more people who are armed the safer the country will be.  Just look at the town of Kennesaw, GA.  They have a mandatory gun policy.  To live there you must own at least one gun per household.   Just take a look at what happened:  crime rate had dropped 74% from 1981-82, then fell again from 1982-83 another 45% with the mandatory firearms law.   You should always keep in mind of the original intent of the 2nd Amendment.  Hopefully our government never becomes tyrannical towards its populace, but if they did we should have the resources to protect ourselves, and we can't do that if our weaponry is substandard.  However, it is necessary to note that your rights end where someone else's begins.