---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd really rather that nobody had a gun…"
description: "\"I'd really rather that nobody had a gun, and then nobody would have to worry about it. That would be more my theory. In America, there's this knee-jerk..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/ethan-hawke-1828_amendment_i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun_700877.png"
---

#  I'd really rather that nobody had a gun, and then nobody…

![“I'd really rather that nobody had a gun, and then nobody would have to worry about it. That would be more my theory. In America, there's this knee-jerk response that more walls and more guns make people safer, and I'm entirely suspect of that way of thinking.” quote by Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/ethan-hawke-1828_amendment_i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun_700877.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/ethan-hawke-1828_amendment_i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun_700877.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/ethan-hawke-1828_amendment_i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun_700877.png)

> “I'd really rather that nobody had a gun, and then nobody would have to worry about it. That would be more my theory. In America, there's this knee-jerk response that more walls and more guns make people safer, and I'm entirely suspect of that way of thinking.”

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He expresses a preference for a gun‑free society, questioning the belief that more guns and walls increase safety.

**In simple terms:** He wishes no one had guns, doubting that more guns and walls improve safety.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for reducing firearms and rethinking security measures.

Themes

peace security public policy gun control skepticism

Mood

concerned critical thoughtful

Type

opinion political philosophical

When to use this quote

- debating gun legislation
- community safety planning
- political advocacy
- media discourse
- personal philosophy

Key Concepts

individual rights collective safety policy effectiveness cultural attitudes

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternatives to guns could ensure safety?
- How do cultural attitudes affect gun policy?

A Different Perspective

May overlook practical enforcement challenges and differing cultural contexts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Guns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guns/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Way of thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-thinking/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/)

## Related quotes

> [On the other hand, if people are made safer, more efficient, more comfortable – or just plain happier – by contact with the product,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-dreyfuss/on-the-other-hand-if-people-are-made-safer-more-efficient-more/)

[Henry Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-dreyfuss/)

> [We live in a consumer culture, and Black Friday is like the July 4th of that culture. It might be good not to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-seabrook/we-live-in-a-consumer-culture-and-black-friday-is-like-the-july-4th/)

[John Seabrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-seabrook/)

> [President Trump's efforts have made the American people safer and our nation stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/president-trump-s-efforts-have-made-the-american-people-safer-and-our/)

[Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/)

> [ Lets us all have an open conversation about what this might mean if \[Donald\] Trump gets his way or how we might be able… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/lets-us-all-have-an-open-conversation-about-what-this-might-mean-if/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [“Guns make losers feel like winners. That's why people who suck at life don't want to give up their guns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/guns-make-losers-feel-like-winners-that-s-why-people-who-suck-at-life/)

[Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/)

> [“Guns make small men feel big.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-gaspirtz/guns-make-small-men-feel-big/)

[Oliver Gaspirtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-gaspirtz/)

> [Guns will make us powerful; butter will only make us fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guns-will-make-us-powerful-butter-will-only-make-us-fat/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Guns make you stupidbetter to fight your wars with duct tape. Duct tape makes you smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/guns-make-you-stupidbetter-to-fight-your-wars-with-duct-tape-duct/)

[Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/)

> [While actors play with guns for make-believe, the guns themselves are by no means make-believe; they're real. Even when the actor is using blanks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trieste-kelly-dunn/while-actors-play-with-guns-for-make-believe-the-guns-themselves-are/)

[Trieste Kelly Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trieste-kelly-dunn/)

> [If you're working on better conditions for prisoners, if you make that a popular issue and you invite mainstream media to weigh in on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/if-you-re-working-on-better-conditions-for-prisoners-if-you-make-that/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [It's hard to know exactly how people develop the characters they do. There could be people from humble beginnings that turn into jerks. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maraniss/it-s-hard-to-know-exactly-how-people-develop-the-characters-they-do/)

[David Maraniss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maraniss/)

> [The word relationship best refers to the connection between parasite and host, or shark and remora. It's a biological term. I'd rather be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-shoales/the-word-relationship-best-refers-to-the-connection-between-parasite/)

[Ian Shoales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-shoales/)

> [Guys are like roller-coasters¦everytime you recover from the last one theres another JERK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guys-are-like-roller-coasters-everytime-you-recover-from-the-last-one/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A jerk will keep hurting you then apologize to keep you from leaving them, and then do it all over again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/a-jerk-will-keep-hurting-you-then-apologize-to-keep-you-from-leaving/)

[Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/)

> [“Even to be impaled by a happy fate makes you jerk against the knowledge of inevitability, of final commitment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-reid-banks/even-to-be-impaled-by-a-happy-fate-makes-you-jerk-against-the/)

[Lynne Reid Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-reid-banks/)

## More by Ethan Hawke

> [If you study the history of mankind, it seems to be a history of violence. Certainly the history of art, whether you look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/if-you-study-the-history-of-mankind-it-seems-to-be-a-history-of/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [Time is what creates trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/time-is-what-creates-trust/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [To be married to another famous person was a huge pressure, one I didn't enjoy. And it had nothing to do with her. She's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/to-be-married-to-another-famous-person-was-a-huge-pressure-one-i-didn/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [Friends can hurt you, but the possibility of pain with lovers is so much greater because your expectations are so high. You don't ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/friends-can-hurt-you-but-the-possibility-of-pain-with-lovers-is-so/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [If you don't risk doing something foolish, you'll never do anything special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/if-you-don-t-risk-doing-something-foolish-you-ll-never-do-anything/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [Most of us float with the river and there are a few people who move the river. Robert DeNiro is definitely one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/most-of-us-float-with-the-river-and-there-are-a-few-people-who-move/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [Often you see a famous actor who says they produced something, when all they did was claim to have an idea at a dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/often-you-see-a-famous-actor-who-says-they-produced-something-when/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [In truth, the world is a complicated place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/in-truth-the-world-is-a-complicated-place/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [I think that if you walk through this life and I end up being a bad father, then it won't matter anything else I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/i-think-that-if-you-walk-through-this-life-and-i-end-up-being-a-bad/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [Directing is like putting together a collage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/directing-is-like-putting-together-a-collage/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [There is no trick to writing a believable love story, a heartbreaking scene or real-sounding dialogue. All you need is to tell the truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/there-is-no-trick-to-writing-a-believable-love-story-a-heartbreaking/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [There's some kind of actors that can radically change who they are from movie to movie. I've never really been that kind of actor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/there-s-some-kind-of-actors-that-can-radically-change-who-they-are/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [It's a really unique job that is a little schizophrenic and you have to kind of do it with a sense of humor.The trick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/it-s-a-really-unique-job-that-is-a-little-schizophrenic-and-you-have/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [My first car was kind of sad. My first car was when my parents had completely worn out their Toyota Corolla that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/my-first-car-was-kind-of-sad-my-first-car-was-when-my-parents-had/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

> [ The script \[of Regression\] wasn't the draw for me. It was largely Alejandro \[Amenabar\] and his way of talking. To hear him talking about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/the-script-of-regression-wasn-t-the-draw-for-me-it-was-largely/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

[Explore all 205 Ethan Hawke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

## More Amendment quotes

> [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/)

[Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/)

> [“Let's just make this easy. I'm in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would read something like this: 'Neither the federal government, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/let-s-just-make-this-easy-i-m-in-favor-of-a-constitutional-amendment/)

[Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/)

> [If you reduce the guns and the ammo, you'll reduce the murders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/if-you-reduce-the-guns-and-the-ammo-you-ll-reduce-the-murders/)

[Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/)

> [Gun control laws don't work. What is worse, they act perversely. While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation, scrutiny and bureaucratic control, illicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-polsby/gun-control-laws-don-t-work-what-is-worse-they-act-perversely-while/)

Daniel D. Polsby

> [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [Guns aren't the problem; sick people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/guns-aren-t-the-problem-sick-people-are/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/)

[Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/)

> [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [I don't think anybody who carries a rifle carries the future. Because I don't believe that you can really change the world by killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-don-t-think-anybody-who-carries-a-rifle-carries-the-future-because/)

[Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/)

> [“my folks wouldn't read a book if you put a gun to their dicks. but they read people all day long and always get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/my-folks-wouldn-t-read-a-book-if-you-put-a-gun-to-their-dicks-but/)

[Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/)

> [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Country lyrics often reference the NRA and firearms ownership as a way of life. Artists such as John Rich, Toby Keith, Sara Evans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/country-lyrics-often-reference-the-nra-and-firearms-ownership-as-a/)

[Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/)

> [“People who have attended Concealed Carry classes, and those already licensed, typically seem to demonstrate a higher degree of courtesy, responsibility and respect. Interestingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-behr/people-who-have-attended-concealed-carry-classes-and-those-already/)

[Gary Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-behr/)

[Browse all 2,041 Amendment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'd really rather that nobody had a gun, and then nobody would have to worry about it. That would be more my theory. In America, there's this knee-jerk response that more walls and more guns make people safer, and I'm entirely suspect of that way of thinking.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ethan Hawke"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun-and-then-nobody-would-have-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Amendment"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun-and-then-nobody-would-have-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/ethan-hawke-1828_amendment_i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun_700877.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/ethan-hawke-1828_amendment_i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun_700877.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/ethan-hawke-1828_amendment_i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun_700877.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'd really rather that nobody had a gun, and then nobody would have to worry about it. That would be more my…” — Ethan Hawke",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ethan Hawke",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'd really rather that nobody had...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun-and-then-nobody-would-have-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/i-d-really-rather-that-nobody-had-a-gun-and-then-nobody-would-have-to/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
