It isn't about pride, it's about self-determination, a concept deeply rooted in American culture. Part of being responsible for one's self is being responsible for one's own defense. Lord knows the police are not fast enough, or brave enough for that matter, to protect us anyway. Americans look at the kind of thing that happened in France, where people waited to be executed in a theater, and they say to themselves "I'll go down fighting, thanks". Whether that's a realistic thing to prepare for or not, that is the mindset. We have a significant aversion to being helpless and relying on the state.

Is 1971 “modern?” That’s when my home country had to fight for its independence from Pakistan by stealing guns from the other side. Having a Second Amendment would’ve saved a lot of lives. We do not live in a time past the end of history. Killing people has always been the last but necessary recourse in protecting freedom and self determination. A disarmed populace is free only at the whim of the people with arms.