hah.. lidwen you are lovely...

your arguments are super. but there is a general red thread i see and that is a lack of faith in your people and government. You contend that the government might screw you over and that there are people out there who only mean you harm.

I contend that this faith needs to be restored before my arguments will carry any weight.

I believe that guns are a temporary measure that only deal with the symptom of a disease and not the disease itself.

The disease here is the fact that the US government has never completely convinced its people that it exists with the blessing of the people and FOR the people. Is it not scary that you consider your elected government a potential adversary whom you may have to take up arms against.

On a more personal level i understand that you want to protect yourself, your family and your home from violation by outsiders. And it's true that having a weapon for self defence gives a sense of security. But you protect yourself from potential violence against yourself, by increasing your own capacity for violence. Tree-hugging hippie type as i am, i find that disheartening. Yet understandable

Man is not built to be taught by violence. And violence or the threat of violence or potential for violence is not a solution to anybody's safety and security.

but seriously.. i think you are lovely