How about this regarding your Constitutional Right to own a firearm? "A well-regulated militia being necassary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". That's the 2nd Amendment from memory. The second part, the one that is always quoted by gun advocates (the right to keep and bear arms), to the exclusion of the first, is predicated upon the first part (A well-regulated militia). This clearly sets forth a right for states to assemble, arm, and regulate militias. Of course, in those days, it was comprised of ordinary citizens, however, the intent was clearly for creating a regular military with which to defend this country. We have a military, we have police, they are well-regulated with regard to firearm use, issuance, etc. Whereas there are as many as 35,000 laws nation wide governing the ownership and limitations of use, type, etc of guns, at the state and national levels, that allow us to own a gun, as interperated literally, the 2nd Amendment does not guarantee my "right" to own a gun. So, in my opinion, the basic assumption that we all have, unfettered, the absolute right to arm ourselves in any/every situation, is a flawed and antiquated notion from the outset. Now, the idea of using a gun to defend oneself is another matter entirely, just seems silly at best and dangerously neglegent at worst.