Guns in America all focus around the foundations of the country; America was made to be free, and the founding fathers wanted to ensure that the new government wouldn’t be able to hold all power over citizens— in the fight against the British government (where America decided many of its values in declaring their independence / what they wanted from a government), Americans took up arms against British soldiers who were, in their opinion, unfairly armed in comparison— American ‘soldiers’ were made up of citizens and many didn’t have guns. Some even fought with only pitchforks and other tools, because they didn’t have access to anything else. So it would make sense that Americans, once finally attaining the right to choose their government, valued a citizen’s ability to take up arms against a government if they see it unfit to rule them— they had just escaped from an oppressive rule and didn’t care to see history repeat itself. This all has to do with the idea of “the people’s rule,” rather than a monarch’s. Guns also play a big role in the IDEA of freedom itself. Not only were guns something which had been greatly lacking when needed (before and during the revolution, where they were in desperate need of guns to fight the armies which were heavily armed), but guns had helped bring America to freedom in some part— and they also represented the ability to protect oneself. American citizens were confident, after the fight, that so long as they could own weapons, the citizens would be able to defend themselves against others, rather than relying on the government to do so. They also believed that a citizen would be able to defend themselves from the government if given guns. The Boston Massacre helps to explain this ideology which many Americans strongly held: citizens harassed British soldiers on a street, and in return, several citizens were shot. With no guns or real arms to fight back with, the situation was considered horrific by colonists, who saw it unfair for the soldiers to be given power— which they abused— while the citizens were given none— and thus couldn’t escape the abusive soldiers. Having guns, in a very early American’s mind, would probably make them feel much safer. After living through an oppressive government and hectic fight to freedom, people are going to be scared of losing their freedom, and at the time guns represented their ability to defend what they had attained. Overall, guns tend to represent an American’s freedom; their ability to fight for what they believe in; and their own, self-promised safety.