and america is considered violent?  how many times have you seen some a$$hole in the middle east waving around huge rifle, chanting some gibberish while burning an american flag?  not only that, but they FIRE randomly into the sky...watch out, you might hit allah.  don't these people realize that bullets follow a parabolic arch, and those bullets are going to land somewhere, and inside a person's head is not a fargone conclusion?\n\neveryone in america should be allowed to carry a gun.
128635
Wow, this question seems to have brought all the crazies out of the woodwork.\n\nPeople who claim that they carry the guns around because we are "at war" with Iraq and Afghanistan simply have no clue what they are talking about.  They did the same thing long before either war ever started and middle easterners in other countries do the same thing.  They carry them to parties and celebrations and enjoy waving them in the air.  That has absolutely nothing to do with the US presence in the area.  They would do the same thing even if we weren't there.\n\nOn the other hand, people ARE abducted and executed in Iraq and Afghanistan every day by radical muslims who don't want their governments to stabilize.  The real problem is the terrorists, not the US military.  When the common citizens of Iraq have to fear being pulled over and executed by terrorists on the way to work, to prayer, or to get groceries, I don't blame them at all for carrying weapons.  However, don't fool yourself into believing that it only happens in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It is common elsewhere in the middle east as well.\n\nAnother thing to point out is that shooting into the air at celebrations is common in other parts of the world, including the US.  Some of my uncles and cousins used to do it at midnight on New Year's.  It is much like the tradition of shooting off fireworks.  If it makes a loud bang, some people like it.  Personally, I think it is rather stupid.\n\nThe reason I feel that way is that the falling bullets DO kill people.  In the US, the pratice is most common in rural areas and hence there are few people to be hit.  However, in the middle east guns are often shot into the air at large celebrations in the city.  The people shooting into the air are often in the midst of large crowds.  With a higher density of people in the area, it shouldn't be surprising that more casualties result.
244322
Okay, I've had some time to think a LOT about this issue since I live in Cincy and was stuck in a two-hour traffic jam because of this insanity!\n\nALL rappers are not stupid - all young men are not stupid, but many of both are.  \n\nOne person was not shot - FOUR people were shot, all while driving down the expressway.  The crime scene was more than three miles long.  One person died.  \n\nWhat is it with young people - particularily young men - who think it's okay to shoot someone because they are upset.  What is that about?
322631
You said, "we Americans"!!!  I can't believe it!  Hooray!!!\n\nYou know, judging by what I've seen here at YA, if Americans HAD to read instructions to have a gun, they might have to be just knife nuts.  Or stick and rock nuts.
40877
Im betting more Mosques have Weapons than what we know of since there are at least 7 brands of Islam and a lot of Muslims think that Violence against a Non-Muslim is ok.\n\nNot to mention a lot of Muslims have absolutely no regard for the laws of America, Australia and Europe.
90886
No matter which side you are on - there is a problem with militant muslims.  It started in 1983, and just grew.  The 1993 WTC bombings should've a wake up call for all americans.  We went to Afghanistan & Iraq to defend ourselves because terrorist don't have homeland.  I don't like seeing our troops, ally troops, or iraqis dying, but I'd rather have the battle fought on their land not ours.  911 was the worst attack on our soil ever.
59838
It's logic....considering 9/11.  We are concerned with lowering our incidence of another attack.  And the Arab World in general hasn't been so friendly to us either....why with all the people so willing to strap a bomb to themselves and walk into a place where they could kill 20 Americans......It doesn't seem that other regions of the globe are so willing to do the same.....wouldn't you be concerned??
439790
As a Brit  I apologise for stepping in here, but would just like to say that the only two members of my American family who possess guns are police officers.  The remainder refuse to own guns on the grounds that too many 'accidents' occur in households where weapons are kept. They have a point - I lived in New York for a while and the number of accidental (fatal) shootings by children of children, in the home, amazed me - as did the arbitrary and senseless shooting of people on the streets.  So I guess the family has a point. \n\nIncidentally, regarding the comment above that the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution gives Americans the constitutional right to own guns, doesn't the relevant sentence say  "A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."   Surely, all that means is that in the absence of a standing army (the newly formed United States not yet having a regular army when the Constitution was drafted), the people were allowed to bear arms, as members of a disciplined militia, in order to protect their new nation in case of an attack by outside forces?  Now that the USA has both a National Guard  _and_  an enormous Regular Army, isn't that Amendment now redundant and a couple of centuries out of date?     \n\nI'm only asking... but it's a question that's worth calm, reasoned discussion, surely?
575075
How Can and "AMERICAN" be so damn stupid, i am so upset to see some bastard who has probobly never even held a gun go nuts. how can you call a president who has bettered the lives of over 5 million Afgans and Iraqis "evil" Dont you get it. the reason we're not pulling out is because of those soldiers; you want to spit on their graves by saying. yes you accomplished alot but we are going to forget that. so  sorry, you died for nothing. How can a firefighter who was SICK on that day say "i have seen first hand what suffering this war has caused." \nbesides dont you get it?!?! 3.5 million Muslims have declared Jihad on the US do you even know what that means!?! Jihad is an eternal war, it says there may be periods of peace but ultimately it must go on. Al-Qaeda and Halluza will not stop untill they have destroyed or converted the entire World. ITS NOT HOW CAN THE U.S. BE SO STUPID IT IS HOW CAN THE WORLD BE SO STUPID
88588
Yes.  That's freedom of speech.  You know, like a bunch of scumballs standing around screaming "Death to America?"  You may not like what people say or publish, but they have the right to do it.  You have the right to ignore it if you wish.  So, if something someone says or publishes offends you, don't watch or read it.  It's so simple, isn't it?  After all, it's not as if they are putting a gun to your head (or threatening to kidnap and behead you) is it?\n\nNo, I would not have published the cartoons, because I do respect others' religious views.  Also, because the peace loving, respectful Muslims of this world choose to commit violence and murder over a silly cartoon.  Ask them how they feel about Jews sometime to get their views of what respect for another's religion is really all about.  It's THEIR religion that all of this respect is limited to.  If they had their way, all Jews would be killed.  In the West, we call this hypocrisy.  In their world, I guess it's called respect.
37963
First of all, it has nothing to do with religous leaders.  That makes no sense at all. So obviously you are a moron.  It has nothing to do with a "few" U.S. citizens typing on the internet.  It is catching people in this country who want to destroy it and communicate with terrorists and evil people like the ones who killed 3,000 people on 9/11. I don't understand who you mean by cowards.  It is the complete opposite of coward if you are on the offensive and try to stop violence by terrorists before it happens.  Democrats want to sit back and wait for something to happen before taking action.  That is a coward.  So again you make no sense. Our military does put there life on the line everyday to protect punks like you and this country.  Information they get from NSA wiretapping helps them do this and to stop terrorists from killing innocent Americans.  Maybe even someone close to you.  Would you want to keep your "liberty" or have your mom killed in a terrorist attack when it could have been stopped by wiretapping?  Freedom of thought?  Go ahead and think whatever you want!  Type it on the internet.  Talk about it on the phone.  No one cares!  The government doesn't care.  But if you are talking to al Qaeda then yes they will care and take your a** down!  And if it weren't for that "little protection" you so casually talk about when thousands of Americans have died for it, you would not have your liberty or freedom.
243344
In my opinion, these types of things happen because we as Christians do not stand up for the rights that the founders of America gave us.  We get mad and complain to people around us, but we do nothing on a big scale to fight against it.  America was founded on religious freedom:  the freedom to worship the god of our choice in the manner in which we choose.  There is no national religion because of this.  I'm not trying to tell everyone that they should worship the way I do, but they should allow me to worship God the way I want.  Posting the Ten Commandments somewhere doesn't force a person to read it.  "One nation under God" does not force a person to say it.  Christians need to start fighting for our rights as much as the ACLU and other groups fight for what they deem to be the rights of any other group.
77219
Because a lot of americans don't under stand that the palastinians are fighting for their land back that is all they are not purposely trying to cause truoble all they want is there land back and that is all that matters.  They also do not understand that all middle eastern people are not terrorists.  Terrorists belong to groups just like gangs and just cuz we have a lot of gangs in america does not mean that all americans are gangbangers.
90010
People do have a right to burn a lot of things, including a flag!  But if you are burning the American flag, then you might as well set yourself on fire!  That's because the American flag stands as a symbol for the freedom of expression, and the freedom to burn flags!  And if you are burning the symbol of expression, the very symbol which allows you to burn the flag itself, then in effect you are rejecting you freedom of expression which the American flag stands for!  If you are burning the flag, you are basically saying that you do not want to have freedom to express yourself constructively, and in a positive manner!  In a sense you are rejecting the very freedom which enables you to burn the flag!  It does seem kind of odd for most people that anybody would want to burn the flag of their own country, especially a country which is very tolerant of these types of irrational expressions!  All I am trying to say is - don't bite the hand that fed you!  If you do not like this country, then leave!  Go to Canada, or Mexico, or Iran, (while there, try burning that country's flag for everybody to see, I would pay money to see that)!  But no, you see just the opposite happening, more people want to come to this country, because this country more than any other allows for Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness, and amongst many other things, the right to express yourself, and speak your mind!  No, I am not saying that this country is perfect, but compared to the rest of the world, it just might be!
56917
Please give me an example of someone in the US being beheaded by an angry religious mob recently.  If the premise of your question is false, you aren't going to get any answers that make any sense.\n\nNote to Additional Details:  we are certainly not immune to terrorist attacks in the US, it is a real concern.  However, we are in much less danger than in many other places in the world, and I don't think that falsely magnifying the danger is going to make it any better.  \n\nA major reason that the absurd demonstrations over the cartoons have gone on for as long as they have is because some people in Muslim countries continue to inflame and stir people up with overblown, reckless, and irresponsible rhetoric.  In fact they use the same sort of arguements that you're using now:  "Our countries are all going to be taken over, our youth corrupted, horrible things are going to happen, by depraved Westerners unless we all stand up and do something drastic about it."  \n\nLike you, these people do have a small basis for what they are saying, but they're not doing anything to help the problem constructively.  They're just trying to incite a riot.  Do you really want to emulate them?
481227
I am with you on both counts...\n\nI think it is possible that SOMEONE in the world would use that to penetrate security and perhpas do damage and since that iIS the case then they have a right to mitigate that security risk. That isn't some made up hyped up way to offend people this is a very real issue that is a very real possiblity and thus is well within thier rights and responsibilities to do so.\n\nI am a realist and as such would like to be as safe as possible and if that means someone has to take off thier head covering to be identified properly to ensure the safety of everyone else, then, well, that is the way it is...\n\n\n*PS.. I would also ban religious paraphernalia too but will save that for another anwswer... because I know I am probably already going to get some thumbs down and I will be accused of hating muslims which is NOT th case, I am friends with several Muslims... and I would like THEM to be safe as well...
644739
terrorism has to be fought. right now it is being fought in Iran and Afghanistan. someday it will be fought in  another country. that country could be right here in USA. yes, we are fighting it now, but not to the extent where we have solders dressed in fighting gear. you don't see tanks going up and down our streets. you don't hear gunfire and bombs going off around you.our troops are fighting to keep everyone free. they are also fighting to keep the WAR from coming onto our shores. and to all of our troops, no matter where you are, BLESS YOU.
578319
If we outlaw all guns, only outlaws will have guns.  Do you REALLY want to give crooks that kind of advantage over us law-abiding citizens?  Many Patriotic Americans proudly own guns...  and that's why no country will even consider invading us!  (except for Mexico, of course)