What about the millions of Americans (and people from around the world for that matter) that don't own guns, but realize it's an essential right?
I don't carry a gun, I don't have any loaded guns around me. I don't go to the range (there's not one in my city). I don't have anything to do with gun culture.
I support the second amendment, like I support all other limits on the government. We need to limit government even further, not individuals.
Governments are far from the greatest problem, they are somewhat partially accountable. and they can become as benign as we make it. What's not benign (what's extremely harmful, in fact) is business power, which is highly concentrated and, by now, largely
transnational. Business power is very far from benign and it's completely unaccountable. It's a totalitarian system that has an enormous effect on our lives. It's also the main reason why the government isn't benign. As for guns being the way to respond to this, that's outlandish. First of all, this is not a weak Third World country. If people have pistols, the government has tanks. If people get tanks, the government has atomic weapons. There's no way to deal with these issues by violent force, even if you think that that's morally legitimate.
Guns in the hands of American citizens are not going to make the country more benign. They're going to make it more brutal, ruthless and destructive. So while one can recognize the motivation that lies behind some of the opposition to gun control, I think it's sadly misguided.
And it's obvious their are millions of people who support the second amendment, as long as they realise by doing this, they endanger their children to a far greater extent than if they supported strict gun control. They either support a humans right to safety and security and let go of their guns or they support their right to own guns and further lessen other peoples right to safety and security and make society far more dangerous. Unfortunately, due to Americas (sick) culture, they won't be able to have both, they won't be able to have guns and safety and security, this has been evident for decades, it is just a case of collective denial that prevents change.
Another solution could be heavily subsidised penis enlargements for those who willingly hand over their guns, surely the real thing will be a better solution than just simply owning deadly phallic objects like guns.