What is the most important reason Americans should be armed?

[Coder]

Some other reason?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[CCWFlaRuger]

You can come up with a dozen good reasons to be armed, but it is the hundreds you haven't imagined that are the important ones.

[HotGuns]

Although some people here would be horrified at the thought, most of the founding fathers believed that an armed populace was needed to keep the Government in check.

Of course, self defense is the principal reason...whether it be from some thug on the street or a rogue government that abuses its citizens.

[press1280]

At this time in our history, I'd say for self-defense against thugs and criminals. At the Founding, it was for an armed citizenry to help defend against a foreign invasion.

[atctimmy]

All of the above.

[retsupt99]

The bottom two both ring close to home for me, and self-preservation has to be #1.OMO

[Eagleks]

You need to add , "all of the above".

[Buckj]

to defend myself my family & my friends/best buddies...

[DaveJay]

Assuming the Second Amendment remains a strong part of our Constitution (that's our job, folks), I would always own weapons...

The only reason I carry one is to protect my family and myself (and if possible, other innocents)...

[Camjr]

I look at it as simply taking care of me and mine. Nobody else is going to do it.

Cheers!

[archer51]

The reasons have evolved since the writing of the Bill of Rights. Today I would say protection of self and family.

[Rock and Glock]

To protect us from the Politicians, and the Thugs too; but I repeat myself.

Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself. Mark Twain

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary. H. L. Mencken

There ought to be one day - just one - when there is open season on senators. Will Rogers

[OD*]

All of the above.

Exactly!

[OldVet]

I passed on the poll as it read too much like a loaded media poll.

I have guns for one reason: I can--for whatever purpose or reason I choose.

[shockwave]

Wrong question.

I don't care if anybody's "armed."

We've seen lots of people show up here, who tell us that they are "armed." They have a handgun, and the magazine is stored separately from the weapon, and the cartridges are stored in some other location, so that everything's all safe 'n' stuff.

And undoubtedly many of our fellow countrymen are "armed" with weapons they may have never fired. Or fired once 10 years ago.

Just having a firearm doesn't really mean anything - and in many cases it's probably a heckuva lot more dangerous that ill-trained and untrained persons have loose guns about, fodder for burglars to fence for easy cash.

And then there's that guy we saw in the news this week. You know the one. He shot and killed his wife during some kinky sex game in bed (if we believe his account of the matter). Was that a person who should have been "armed"? Some blind fool who'd point a gun at a loved one thinking it was some kind of toy to be used for bedroom hijinx?

Nobody should be "armed" unless they have the sense and wherewithal to train themselves and acquire the requisite skills to deploy their weapons effectively and without harm to the innocent. And, in my experience, there aren't that many of us who fit the bill.

So. Being "armed" is something that happens between your ears long before you hold a weapon in your hand. It happens long, long before that.