Discussion If the 2nd amendment was not a thing in the US, would more people choose to legalize voluntary euthanasia?

[TAW122]

What a coincidence that this thread and topic just happens to fall on the 4th of July in the calendar year 2026! But anyways, this was something that just crossed my mind as an American citizen with regards to 2nd amendment (for those who aren't familiar with US culture or know what the 2nd amendment is, it is basically the right to bear arms - aka own guns/firearms). Of course, while the 2nd amendment is in the Bill of Rights at the federal level, each state has it's own nuances with regards to firearms ownership, ranging from waiting periods, having to have specific IDs, certain licensure and training requirements and more (particularly in very blue states such as California, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, to name a few).

As a quick disclaimer: Yes, I know that it is unlikely (at least the writing of this article or any time in the foreseeable future) that firearms/guns will be banned as it is an unique part of US/American culture, and also it would be political suicide for any politician to enact such laws (doesn't mean they don't try to or introduce legislation that slowly erodes the framework of the right to bear arms).

With that said, I sometimes wonder, that perhaps because the US is one of the most (perhaps even the most) permissive country when it comes to firearm ownership and least restrictive (barring some states as well as some jurisdictions, such as District of Columbia (DC), or places) when compared to many other countries, maybe most US citizens don't really push as hard or nearly as vocal when it comes to the right to die? In other words, maybe the abundance and pervasiveness of firearms (more firearms than the population with some owning more than one firearm or multiple firearms) in general is perhaps why most US citizens are more or less settled with the notion of being able to CTB, due to having a common means to end oneself on a whim? Of course, anything can change in the future, which leads me to wonder that what if firearm ownership was not ubiquitous nor as common, similar to most other countries around the world (in Europe, Asia, South America, etc.), then would the demand and push for something similar to some European countries such as the right to die become more common and perhaps more vocal?

 

[Forever Sleep]

It's an interesting idea. I couldn't comment on it personally- not being American myself and, not really having the firearm option at the back of my mind- as an option.

It feels almost pointless pushing the right to die in the UK though. With paliament unable to even decide whether terminally ill and effectively already dying people should have the right to leave early.

I believe it is generally a method used more by men- Googled statistics come out as 25,000 to 26,000 men dying by firearm suicide in the US annually- compared to 3,000 to 3,500 women. A huge difference.

So- I wonder if so many US female citizens do even consider firearms as an easy, go- to method as a way out. Is it even in their minds as a feasible possibility?

Plus- I'd tend to argue- when your average person thinks about assisted suicide- are they not more likely to be thinking of someone with a terminal illness? Someone old and suffering? How many people are even considering that they themselves may feel the need to suicide one day? I'm really not sure just how common, pervasive suicidal thoughts are- in the general population.

If they're not personally considering that they may need to option to suicide then- we are expecting them to campaign on behalf of others and sadly- I think we're quite a selfish race. I think a lot of people tend to do charity work for causes that they feel connected to.

 

[N-methylamphetamine]

it aint even happening
right to die is VERY taboo all over the world, usa is no different.

 

[Blurry_Buildings]

Too many religious fundamentalists to even begin to approach the subject, I think even without guns the opposition would be intense.

A lot of Europe and east Asia is much more secular than we are, at least according to the pew research institute, I've never left North America so I wouldn't know about those places myself, but I know how fanatical many people here are about Christianity.

I believe it is generally a method used more by men- Googled statistics come out as 25,000 to 26,000 men dying by firearm suicide in the US annually- compared to 3,000 to 3,500 women. A huge difference.

Men own guns much more frequently. It's a cultural thing where men often go shooting with groups of friends. Kind of like how you might imagine a group of friends all knitting together being women, even if those are probably harmful stereotypes, the social expectations are real. Men are also societally expected to be the 'protector' of the family so it isn't uncommon for the dad to own a pistol or a shotgun but the mom to be unarmed.

 

[BradGuy123]

American here. I see them as two different things.

The second amendment is so deeply ingrained in this culture. When it was written they were talking about single loaded muskets. The ammosexuals think the 2A means a citizen should be able to own assault weapons. We have mass shooting and they say "It's mental health. Thoughts and prayers." Mass shootings in other countries are very rare. I think it should be OK for a citizen to own a revolver for protection but an assault weapon is too much. Shouldn't be legal.

Euthanasia is illegal because of Bible thumpers and do gooders. They want people with brain cancer to be forced to endure a slow painful death with no dignity because it makes them feel self-righteous to do so.