Why Is The Second Amendment So Important?

Whether you're a gun enthusiast or not, the right to bear arms is a very important facet of our Bill of Rights. According to Wikipedia, no other amendment to the constitution has caused as much debate and differing interpretations (see the lengthy but informative summary under 'second amendment to the constitution' at www.wikipedia.com).
It always bothers me when I see that the two largest opposing sides on the debate always seem to be (please forgive the discriminating segregation and prejudice here) "ignorant and angry rednecks" vs. "tree-hugging Subaru-driving neo hippie liberals." Where is the middle ground? Where is the vast majority of common sense, law-abiding, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness Joe Everydays?
I am a gun owner myself. I enjoy shooting guns and I intend to teach gun safety and responsibility to my children. Yet I would not identify myself with either of the aforementioned groups. When I see video of Charleton Heston exclaiming, "From my cold, dead hand!" through gritted teeth to the riotous uproar of a following of bloodthirsty, John Wayne wannabe's at NRA rallies, I feel inclined to disassociate myself from them as much as possible. But the only people who ever seem to oppose them are...well, I've already made myself clear.
The point is, we must absolutely retain the right to bear arms in order to protect ourselves and our families, if we choose to, from any and all threats or harm. Criminals don't want you to have guns because, as Thomas Jefferson said to criminologist Cesare Beccaria in 1764, "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms..disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed one."
Regarding the reason the government wants to disarm citizens, Jefferson is quoted as saying, "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." He also said, "The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." We ALL would do well to remember this in a world that is daily becoming more dependent than ever before on the governing bodies of the planet to supply us with everything we need. Please bear in mind the chillingly applicable words of President Gerald Ford while watching the following video clip - "Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases." The government that governs best governs least. Democrat or Republican doesn't matter...Big Brother holds the leash of both parties and, believe me, he wants you completely dependent, compliant and loyal to the party.