Eye Square Martial Arts

Cultural Preservation… with Bruises (sometimes).

Tag: firearms

  • Firearms in American Culture: Tool, Symbol, and Flashpoint

    Firearms in American Culture: Tool, Symbol, and Flashpoint

    The Frontier Legacy

    America’s roots are steeped in the rugged independence of the frontier. Firearms were vital for protection and sustenance, and that necessity became part of the national character.

    Even today, rural areas maintain higher gun ownership rates. According to Pew Research, about 67% of rural Americans either own a gun or live in a household with one, compared to just 31% in urban areas. This isn’t just geography—it’s culture.

    Militia, Citizen, Protector

    The notion of the armed citizen wasn’t abstract to the Founders. And it still resonates today. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, 44% of U.S. adults believe having a gun at home makes them safer.

    Gun ownership is widespread: roughly 32% of Americans personally own a firearm, and about 44% live in a gun-owning household, according to Pew Research.

    While gun control debates often focus on crime, defensive gun use (DGU) is a well-documented phenomenon. A CDC review cited defensive use estimates ranging from 60,000 to 2.5 million times per year, depending on the study. Even at the low end, that’s tens of thousands of Americans using firearms for lawful protection.

    Gun Ownership as Identity

    For many, firearm ownership is not just practical—it’s part of who they are. In the same Pew Research survey, respondents listed their top reasons for owning a gun:

    • Self-defense (88%)
    • Hunting (40%)
    • Sport shooting (34%)
    • Gun collecting (15%)

    Nearly two-thirds of gun owners say they can’t imagine not owning a gun, showing how deeply tied firearms are to personal identity and autonomy.

    What the Media Gets Wrong

    The media often skews the portrayal of gun ownership. Real-life firearm users don’t resemble Hollywood vigilantes or nightly news villains.

    According to Pew:

    • 54% of gun owners practice regularly at a range
    • More than 50% have taken a gun safety course
    • 71% say that being a gun owner is very or somewhat important to their self-identity

    And according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, only about 8% of gun crimes involve firearms obtained legally—a stat that undermines many public assumptions.

    Closing Thought

    Behind the headlines and political noise is a quieter, more grounded truth: millions of Americans responsibly own firearms not out of fear—but out of a commitment to protect, prepare, and stand on their own feet.

    Next up: we dig into the law itself—what U.S. firearms regulations really say, and how your rights vary from state to state.

  • The Right to Self-Defense: Why It Exists and What It Really Means

    The Right to Self-Defense: Why It Exists and What It Really Means

    Violence, whether we like it or not, is part of the human experience. And with it comes the unavoidable question: when force is used against you, do you have the right to respond with force of your own?

    The right to self-defense is one of the oldest and most widely recognized principles in legal and moral thought. It predates the Constitution, exists in nearly every legal system in the world, and resonates with something deeply instinctual—when faced with danger, we should be able to protect ourselves and those we care about.

    But how far does that right go? And in the American context, how does the firearm—perhaps the most effective and controversial tool of modern self-defense—fit into that framework?

    Self-Defense: A Natural Right

    At its core, the right to self-defense isn’t granted by any government. It’s a natural right—meaning it exists independent of laws, documents, or institutions. You don’t need a license to try to survive. And societies that recognize this right tend to codify it in laws that allow individuals to use force, sometimes even deadly force, when confronted with imminent harm.

    The American legal tradition, rooted in English common law, has always acknowledged this. Early colonists lived in conditions where law enforcement might be days away—if it existed at all. The responsibility for personal safety started at home and extended to family, property, and community.

    The Second Amendment as a Backstop

    Enter the Second Amendment. While it’s often viewed through the lens of resistance to tyranny, it also plays a crucial role in reinforcing the right of individuals to be prepared for self-defense. It doesn’t create the right—it protects it from infringement.

    Modern debates often miss this point. The Second Amendment isn’t about hunting, and it’s not exclusively about militias. It’s about ensuring that individuals have the practical means to respond to threats when law enforcement can’t—or won’t—arrive in time.

    “Whatever Means Are Necessary”

    When I say I believe in defending yourself by whatever means are necessary, I don’t say that recklessly. Violence should always be the last resort. But if a threat is real, immediate, and unavoidable, the response should be effective.

    And firearms, for many Americans, are simply the most effective tool available. They are a force equalizer. They don’t rely on size, strength, or youth. They allow a 110-pound woman to stop a 250-pound attacker. They allow a disabled veteran to defend his home when help is minutes—or miles—away.

    This isn’t about paranoia. It’s about preparation. And it starts with recognizing that the right to self-defense is real, valid, and worth protecting.

    Closing Thought

    Self-defense isn’t about looking for a fight—it’s about having the means to survive one. In the next part of this series, we’ll explore how firearms became woven into American culture and why that history matters more than ever in today’s debate.