Hi, VividRick.

The Second Amendment provides a constitutional guarantee of the right of citizens to bear arms. In the context of a constitution written by people who had just fought a revolution against an oppressive regime, that made some sense. So, I guess we can blame you Brits for our out-of-control gun nuts. If King George III had just let go, without a fight, guns would not have seemed so important.

Some of us think it is unlikely that the founders meant the Second Amendment to mean that anyone can stockpile an armory of automatic weapons, but that's how lots of Americans take it. Gun owners are a powerful voting block, and the NRA (National Rifle Association) is one of the most powerful and well funded organization in the country.

Of course, geography is an important consideration in local laws. In New York City, the local gun control laws are relatively strict, whereas in Texas, it seems that everyone has a gun rack on the car.

While constitutional guarantees (free speech, due process, the freedom from having the government break into your home) are crumbling, the Second Amendment is as strong as ever.

And don't forget, everywhere, even in the UK, the right of weapons suppliers to make a profit outweighs all other considerations, the British sale of arms to Bahrain, so the government can shoot down protesters, being only one such example.