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Ask HN: Why do US citizens need so many guns?

5 points by hubatrix ↗ HN
I recently read on Buzzfeed that there are about 63019 automatic machine guns used by civilians in states. I don't understand what is the practical need for a gun in the first place? In many Asian countries only mafias own guns and they seldom see normal folks carrying one or having one. Why do folks in US want to own a gun? And what do they usually use it for?

2 comments

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hellofunk
They don't need them. But many really really want them, and this "want" is often justified as a bonafide "need" out of concern for self-defense. In reality, guns are rarely used properly for self-defense and most deaths in a home from a gun are due to an accident or a suicide.

Gun ownership is deeply entrenched in American history and written into the constitution since centuries ago. When something is that fundamental to a culture and its government, it is unlikely to change.

Though I fail to understand why machine guns remain legal. You can't buy a grenade launcher or anti-aircraft missile system, so why other weapons of war? That's the one oddity.

Disclaimer: I have family members in the states; one of them own 15 guns.

PaulHoule
I live in rural upstate NY and when the SAFE act was passed, signs opposing it popped up all over the place.

Deer season is bigger than the superbowl here.

The guy who cuts our hay had a political awakening, started going to rallies in Albany, and worked to support a Republican challenger to Cuomo.

In his case, interestingly, he started paying attention to politics and really thinking about it, in order to answer the question of why Cuomo won.