Do You Own a Gun?

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by monster

The constitution gives right to bear arms/bare arms/whatever.

Actually, it doesn't "give" the right; it acknowledges that the right exists already, inhering in being a human.

Would it be unconstitutional to insist that everyone had a gun? Is there a right to be unarmed?

Yeah, but unarmed is also imprudent, assuming (and one is so very often safe in so assuming) the possessor is sound of mind. One can bring to mind many, well, unfortunate uses of the First Amendment right of free speech here in this Cellar -- some have shown the rest of us that they hold to beliefs that turn them into right bastards.

Would gun crime be reduced if everyone were armed?

The most careful and largest study says yes. John Lott, More Guns, Less Crime -- very illuminating.