The Red & White

Gun use in America has become highly contentious, as people dispute whether the Second Amendment protects the inviolable right to bear arms or whether gun access should be subject to greater control. Recently, due to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the issue has once again been pushed to the forefront of public attention.

According to The Washington Post, in 2017, Americans possessed about 46 percent of the entire global stock of 857 million civilian firearms while comprising only four percent of the world’s population. The United States claims the highest gun ownership rate in the world, surpassing Yemen—the next-highest nation—by more than 100 percent. 

Since the establishment of the United States, bearing arms has been one of the rights held by its constituents. In the American Revolutionary War, civilian militias armed themselves with personal munitions to fight for independence, setting a precedent that would later culminate in the creation of the Second Amendment, which enshrined citizens’ right to bear arms. The adoption of the Second Amendment explicitly linked gun ownership to national security and was rooted the belief that an armed populace was essential for securing freedom. American constituents subsequently subscribed to the notion that guns were not just weapons; they became symbols representing people’s determination against tyranny. This symbolism was reinforced again and again in U.S. history: from the Civil War to the World Wars, guns always played an important role.

Moreover, beyond historical reasons, bearing arms also has practical uses in modern times. This is connected to a notable case and to the role of police officers: Warren v. District of Columbia. In 1981, three women living in Washington, D.C., experienced a severe home invasion. After multiple 911 calls and assurances that help was coming, officers briefly checked the scene and left; the victims were then abducted and assaulted for hours. Later, the three victims sued the District of Columbia and individual members of the Metropolitan Police Department for “negligent failure to provide adequate police services.” However, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled that, due to the “public duty doctrine,” police owe a duty to the public at large, not to individual citizens, for protection. Ultimately, the lawsuit failed and subsequently made the public more aware of self-protection; owning guns appeared to be the most direct and effective way to provide self-defense from many citizens’ perspectives.

The economy behind weapon manufacturing also contributes tremendously to Americans’ obsession with gun use policies. The firearm manufacturing and sales industry constitutes tens of billions of dollars of the U.S. economy each year. Based on the data provided by the Firearm Industry Trade Organization, in 2024, the total economic impact of firearms and ammunition in the U.S. reached 91.7 billion dollars and supported over 300,000 Americans with jobs, demonstrating that many Americans heavily rely on this industry. Besides ordinary pedestrians, politicians are also deeply influenced by these military-industrial complexes, and have engaged in creating policies in support of protecting the Second Amendment. In order to shape policy, gun-related organizations invest heavily each year in lobbying efforts—millions of dollars are “donated” to politicians and lawmakers in exchange for the passage of bills. By advocating gun rights and reducing gun control, those corporations create a favorable market for firearms. Unsurprisingly, the political lobbying and messaging funded by these corporations bolster cultural attachment to guns among the public.

Overall, Americans’ attachment to guns should not be attributed solely to historical reasons, but also to the military-industry complex. Americans’ obsession with guns rests on more than slogans; it is a paradox between cultural identities, the necessity of self-defense, and a tremendous industry behind it. They have collectively formed the current-day United States, with success, glory, and livelihoods, as well as pain, shame, and trauma.