Les Américains s'arment + que jamais. Je suis parti les rencontrer (Reportage)

Gun owners argue that the government shouldn't have control over what citizens can own, citing it as a constitutional right and second amendment protection against tyranny.

• Pistols are hugely popular in America, with many people carrying them daily • Some guns are collector's items or decorative pieces • Five million new gun owners emerged during recent civil unrest, having never owned guns before

• Fear of unrest after elections and potential riots • Concerns about break-ins and looting • Desire for self-defense capabilities • Response to civil disturbances spilling into neighborhoods

Gun owners emphasize that guns are safe when handled properly and that none of their weapons have harmed anyone.

• Never point a gun at anything you're not willing to destroy • Always expect the gun to be loaded even if you know the magazine is empty • Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire • Check the chamber to ensure safety

Instructors offer conceal carry classes and marksmanship training, emphasizing that gun safety is the most important thing and it's the safest when you know what you're doing.

• Ball ammo has a round nose tip and can over-penetrate in self-defense situations • Hollow head rounds are designed to expand when hitting tissue and are better for self-defense

People come to training not just for self-defense but also as a sport to improve skills. Instructors encourage learning because 'you can' rather than because 'you should'.

On Valentine's Day, February 14th, a man kicked open a classroom door at Northern Illinois University's Cole Hall and opened fire. He used three handguns and a shotgun, killing five people before taking his own life.

• A survivor was shot in the neck and arm, spending about two days in the hospital • Survivors hid under desks as everyone was screaming and yelling • Loud noises and fireworks still scare survivors today, triggering trauma responses

Parents of the five victims came to see memorials of their children. Every year on Valentine's Day at 3:05 PM, parents return to ring bells five times in remembrance.

The shooting had lasting psychological effects on survivors, with some experiencing ongoing anxiety and fear responses to loud noises.

A shooting survivor agrees about mental illness concerns but believes it shouldn't be easy to obtain large assault rifles like those used in Las Vegas, Parkland, and Virginia Tech mass shootings.

Suggest allowing handguns for home protection and shotguns for hunting, but not large capacity weapons designed to kill many people. Advocates propose meeting in the middle rather than banning all guns or removing all laws.

• European countries don't have the same gun violence problems as America • Survivors feel much safer in Europe where fewer people have guns • Gun culture and availability differ significantly from the United States

Gun owners argue that mental health, cyberbullying, and social issues are the real problems causing school shootings, not the guns themselves.