Thanks for bringing your point of view. I disagree, but i believe discourse is important, and i thank you for contributing.
The United States would not be if it had not been for our guns. Not just our revolution from the oppressive red-coats, but throughout our history. The Japanese said the reason they didnt invade the west coast during WWII was because they knew so many Americans kept guns in their house. As a nation, we use our firearms to protect our country. We view freedom as a fundamental value in our country, because so many have fought and died for the country. We are all taught as youngsters in school all about Nathan Hale's famous line "My only regret is that i have but one life to give for my country" We are all taught about the cemetery at Arlington, and the tomb of the unknown soldier. So many people have given their lives over our 200+ hundred year history for our constitution and the freedom it brings.
If we were to give up our freedoms now, than we would be spitting on the graves of all those brave men. We would be saying they died in vain.
Crime and legal gun ownership are not correlative. Britain, for example, has a very high crime rate. Even in China, with no guns available, people go on killing sprees with hammers or knives. In America, crime goes up in places where legal handguns get banned. Look at the crime rate in Chicago! Also, look at what happened in Washington DC after the SCOTUS decision in 2008. Within a year of handguns being legal, the violent crime rate dropped 25%!!!
If you desire to see the facts for yourself, here is a link with tons of great info.
http://www.gunfacts.info
Facts are facts, and opinions are opinions. If a normal law abiding citizen obtains a legal handgun, his personality structure does not suddenly change into an opportunistic criminal. If an opportunistic criminal has the intent to commit a crime, we will do it, regardless of if he has a gun or not.