I'm gonna bring my perspective as a LEO to the table.
Being a lifelong California resident, I've had a front-row seat as to the ineptitude of government at all levels. Fact: Sacramento is a shining example of Idiocy in action.
These are the folks in charge of creating all our laws. If they are so inept at running this state, why should they be trusted with protecting me & my loved ones?
Well, it turns out they dont have any obligation to protect you/me/anybody. Read Warren vs. DC ---
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_v._District_of_Columbia
With this in mind, check out this recent article from the LA Times:
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/23/local/la-me-sex-offenders-20130224
In a nutshell, this article relates that because of state budgetary ineptitude, violent sexual predators are being released into YOUR town with GPS monitors to track them. The scumbags cut the GPS bracelets off, then go back to doing what they love (your wife/son/daughter).
So, having established that the Lawmakers are inept, and instead of protecting us are actually ENDANGERING us, lets take a look at the 2nd Amendment...
"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
We need only to know the purpose of it to understand WHY we must resist Government efforts to minimize it. The 2nd Amendment is one of, if not the, STRONGEST Checks on Government Power. WE THE PEOPLE hold the Trump Card when Government stops being of/by & for the people.
More on this in a sec, I gotta change my son's poopy diaper...