Maybe it's because, as you allude to in your post, more crime is getting reported. We could be just as violent as we've ever been, but more people have more faith in the prosecution and support systems, so feel they can speak out.
The statistics are only as good as the figures they're based on.
Course, it could all be violent movies and video games. Let's just blame Doom and have done with it. :C
That's not my reason for asking, or caring really. I'm just curious about your reason for wanting to own. Hunting, target shooting etc seems fair enough.
I was more curious if you were to use "safety" as your reason. I know Ken feels the need to own guns from a safety POV. I suppose the safety comes down to your local area, neighbourhood, crime rates etc.
I played Doom a lot years ago. Do you mean to say that I am about to go out and shoot up a Christmas tree lot or a knitting party? Ye Gods and little fishes! 8-O
I don't believe you would ever use your guns to fight your government
From what I have seen, most USians seem to be trained from an early age to do exactly what any Police officer tells them, I cannot imagine you refusing to comply - and even more so should we talking about State or Federal level Officers.
That's where you would be wrong. We did it back in 1776, for starters - and we won. I think it was also done again in 1861 if I recall correctly.
What show are you watching? If this is the case, why are the police shooting so many non-compliant people? I'd suggest to you that you don't know "most USians"; I'd suggest to you that, given events going back to the 60s, that you are incorrect in your assumption that we do "exactly what a police officer tells" us. Police departments across the nation are now viewed with a measure of suspicion due to many examples - especially recently - of undue force and violence being used. More people today are challenging the police in a nonviolent way because they have informed themselves about what the police can and cannot do.