[superuser2]

It's a nasty little feedback loop. Law enforcement displays force, people who use words like "statist" increase their arsenals and their desire to use them against what they see as illegitimate government, law enforcement feels it needs more force, people use angrier rhetoric and buy more guns.

If you believe strongly that the government is an out-of-control terroristic undemocratic police state and We The People are divinely endowed with the right to bear arms against it (like so many people in this thread do), then you must recognize that an agent of that state would be taking an incredibly stupid risk by entering your home in a way that would give you an opportunity to shoot first.

Maybe you think that risk is the price of doing business with an unjust institution, but the officer serving a warrant against you probably doesn't.

[mynewwork]

There is just no truth to what you're saying at all, and it's hard for me to even know how to respond. I've written out several responses that I've deleted because your worldview seems so far removed from reality that I'm not sure how to address it.

If the police show up during the day and knock on the front door with a warrant at the house of the NRA-supporting, libertarian, "statist" terminology using person you allude to, he's not going to respond violently. He'll call a lawyer while reading the warrant, then maybe call the media if he thinks it will help. Please stop "othering" people who hold different views than you. Taking it to such an absurd extreme as to suggest that if someone supports the full bill of rights then they need to be treated as dangerous and dealt with like terrorists is just ridiculous.

If someone plans to murder a police officer, they probably don't really care whether the gun they use to do it is legally owned or not.

[asgard1024]

I think you're right, the US culture indeed favors these unfortunate developments. The 2nd amendment is a misguided idea.

I had an argument with Czech expat living in the US, who was a staunch libertarian. At one point he was "either I have my freedoms, or I will defend myself with the gun". I told him that there is no need for guns, we can also have a peaceful discussion and agree on compromise that everybody will hate. Couldn't explain value of that..

And Americans can change this culture. Respect to rights of others doesn't come from "natural rights" or "republic", but from cooperation among people. Respect to individuals doesn't come from having guns, but rather determination to face guns (or other problems) without having any.

(It doesn't mean that guns are never necessary. It only means that it's often much less hassle and blood to make opponent part of your in-group rather than have fight with him as your out-group.)