--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Americans, we have a long history with…" description: "\"As Americans, we have a long history with firearms. We also have a government built on compromise, so here is the compromise I propose: Ban assault rif..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/nick-symmonds-61579_amendment_as-americans-we-have-a-long-history-with_773605.png" --- # As Americans, we have a long history with firearms. We… ![“As Americans, we have a long history with firearms. We also have a government built on compromise, so here is the compromise I propose: Ban assault rifles and handguns for everyone except police and military personnel. These weapons are made to kill humans and should be strictly limited. At the…” quote by Nick Symmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/nick-symmonds-61579_amendment_as-americans-we-have-a-long-history-with_773605.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/nick-symmonds-61579_amendment_as-americans-we-have-a-long-history-with_773605.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/nick-symmonds-61579_amendment_as-americans-we-have-a-long-history-with_773605.png) > “As Americans, we have a long history with firearms. We also have a government built on compromise, so here is the compromise I propose: Ban assault rifles and handguns for everyone except police and military personnel. These weapons are made to kill humans and should be strictly limited. At the same time, allow responsible citizens to own rifles and shotguns. Rifles are for hunting big-game animals, shotguns are for hunting birds; non-automatic versions of these weapons should be available for those with an interest in hunting or target shooting.” [Nick Symmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-symmonds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Proposes a compromise: ban assault rifles and handguns for civilians, allow hunting rifles and shotguns, with restrictions for non‑automatic versions. **In simple terms:** Suggests limiting firearms to hunting and police/military use while restricting assault weapons. Key Takeaway Implement targeted gun restrictions. Themes public policy gun control compromise Mood analytical concerned Type policy debate When to use this quote - legislative debate - community safety - hunting regulations Key Concepts firearm regulation public safety Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports this compromise? - How will enforcement be ensured? A Different Perspective Balancing rights and safety is complex and may face political resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault/) [Assault rifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault-rifles/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Firearms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firearms/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Handguns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handguns/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Hunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunting/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military personnel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-personnel/) [Personnel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personnel/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rifles/) [Target shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target-shooting/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [I have no problem with hunting rifles and shotguns and pistols and what-not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/i-have-no-problem-with-hunting-rifles-and-shotguns-and-pistols-and/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [... I must say this concerning the great controversy over rifles and shotguns. The only thing I've ever said is that in areas where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-must-say-this-concerning-the-great-controversy-over-rifles-and/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Over the past 30 years, hand grenades, tanks, fighter jets, missiles, helicopters and assault rifles have replaced traditional floral patterns in rug making and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cole/over-the-past-30-years-hand-grenades-tanks-fighter-jets-missiles/) [Henri Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cole/) > [I believe in our Constitutional right to bear arms and protect ourselves. But I do not believe there is any need for civilians to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/i-believe-in-our-constitutional-right-to-bear-arms-and-protect/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [Any1 who would run out to buy an assault rifle after the Newtown massacre has very little left in their body or soul worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/any1-who-would-run-out-to-buy-an-assault-rifle-after-the-newtown/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [As long as the peace-makers are armed with assault rifles, it's highly unlikely we'll ever have peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/as-long-as-the-peace-makers-are-armed-with-assault-rifles-it-s-highly/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) > [You should not have assault rifles in your home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/you-should-not-have-assault-rifles-in-your-home/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [My work is my life, and my life is my work. I invented this assault rifle to defend my country. Today, I am proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/my-work-is-my-life-and-my-life-is-my-work-i-invented-this-assault/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [If have to undergo preschool safety checks every morning, why does a random thug get to own an assault rifle?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/if-have-to-undergo-preschool-safety-checks-every-morning-why-does-a/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [If women took up arms to defend their reproductive rights, the GOP would ban assault rifles yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-marmel/if-women-took-up-arms-to-defend-their-reproductive-rights-the-gop/) Steve Marmel > [I don't know anyone in the hunting or sporting arena that goes out with an assault rifle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manchin/i-don-t-know-anyone-in-the-hunting-or-sporting-arena-that-goes-out/) [Joe Manchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manchin/) > [Putting a bomb in a dumpster or putting it with a timer by a race, it is not the kind of - similar to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/putting-a-bomb-in-a-dumpster-or-putting-it-with-a-timer-by-a-race-it/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [I am still ready to shake hands with anyone who designs a better assault rifle than mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/i-am-still-ready-to-shake-hands-with-anyone-who-designs-a-better/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [Ceres wanted a united front in the plant war." "The plant war," Percy said. "You're going to arm all the little grapes with tiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/ceres-wanted-a-united-front-in-the-plant-war-the-plant-war-percy-said/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [The Second Amendment isn't about duck hunting or target shooting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-second-amendment-isn-t-about-duck-hunting-or-target-shooting/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) ## More by Nick Symmonds > [I run around in circles, professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-symmonds/i-run-around-in-circles-professionally/) [Nick Symmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-symmonds/) > [I have a passion for life that allows me to make the most of my days and fill them with work and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-symmonds/i-have-a-passion-for-life-that-allows-me-to-make-the-most-of-my-days/) [Nick Symmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-symmonds/) > [Just as with running, there were days that I didnt feel like writing; I wrote anyways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-symmonds/just-as-with-running-there-were-days-that-i-didnt-feel-like-writing-i/) [Nick Symmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-symmonds/) > [Whether you're gay, straight, black, white, we all deserve the same rights. If there's anything I can do to champion the cause and further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-symmonds/whether-you-re-gay-straight-black-white-we-all-deserve-the-same/) [Nick Symmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-symmonds/) [Explore all 5 Nick Symmonds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-symmonds/) ## 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. 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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": "As Americans, we have a long history with firearms. We also have a government built on compromise, so here is the compromise I propose: Ban assault rifles and handguns for everyone except police and military personnel. These weapons are made to kill humans and should be strictly limited. At the same time, allow responsible citizens to own rifles and shotguns. 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