>Are you looking to stop violence and murder?

I'd love that, but it's grossly unrealistic. I'd love to see a vast reduction in gun violence, most especially the epidemic of mass shootings that America is facing.

• Strict gun ownership regulations wouldn't absolve us of gun violence completely, but it would allow less easily accessed firearms.

• Banning civilian firearm ownership for the foreseeable future also wouldn't completely solve gun violence in the country either. However, I'll use Port Arthur as an example.

• In April 1996, a shooter killed 35 people and injured 23 others in Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia. That shooting forced the government to make huge changes to their gun ownership amendments, taking guns away from civilians. There have been 3 mass shootings in Australia in the 27 years since Port Arthur. There have been over 100 mass shootings in America since the beginning of this year.

>Do you just not like guns?

Actually the opposite. When I bought my house I was looking to buy a Sig p365 for home defense, but after Uvalde and having my daughter I reconsidered. I trust myself to be responsible and keep it locked up and unloaded, but then it defeats the purpose of having it for home defense if it's so difficult for me to access in a time sensitive situation like a home invasion.

>What solution are you in theory stepping to?

A theoretical reduction in gun violence in America based on a statistical analysis of other countries where the civilians do not have access to guns.

• Police would be less hostile if they aren't in fear of a simple traffic stop erupting into a shootout

• A reduction in mass shootings, gang shootings, crimes of passion, road rage shootings, accidental shootings, and gun-related suicides are all reduced

That's really all I want to see. I'm not naive - I know crimes will still be committed, I know there will still be psychos running around naked at train stations trying to stab people. I know illegal arms dealership is a real occurrence. But a reduction in the epidemic of gun violence in America, and only America, is the goal that I'd like to see our government reach.

I'm not saying you're insinuating this at all, but I feel compelled to say it anyway given its such a talked about topic; the second amendment was created for the purpose of suppressing a tyrannical government. People feel if they take guns from us, the government has all the power.

Maybe I'm a nihilist, but I think we're all long passed the point of combating the government. They may not outnumber us, but they sure as hell outdo us in available tech.

• Better weapons

• Better armor

• Better surveillance technologies

• Tanks/Choppers/Jets/Drones

• Better training

If we were to step up to the government, they'd squash us like bugs. We all allowed them to stockpile defenses after 9/11 in the wake of passionate Civil defense that we have no chance against them if they decided to start rounding people up like Nazi Germany.

So, to conclude this; there's no viable reason I can see why American civilians should be able to own guns.

Sorry for the long-winded wall of text. I tried to be as concise and clear-cut as possible but I honestly don't blame you in the least if you gave up reading it halfway through.