Are we obsessed with firearms?

Americans are accused by many as having an obsession with firearms. If this is true, why is it?

Let's assume for a moment it is true. Maybe it is because we are much more closely tied to our frontier heritage. Europeans had been ruled by the "elite" for at least two centuries when we declared ourselves a separate nation. During those two centuries, the general world-wide population had been disarmed by the rulers for one reason - to make revolt nearly impossible.

The general population was considered unable to govern themselves, justifying the "rulers" to rule. To safeguard their political sta...