Are Americans really optimistic or are they whining pessimists?

[Bandit]

Americans supposedly have the reputation of being eternal optimists. Is that really the truth. Why are Americans so gun happy? I would think feeling like you have to have a gun to protect yourself is a form of pessimism. You think harm is going to come to you in some manner so you need a gun. Americans believe they are the bad ass on the block but is that optimism or bravado? They feel that if they kick enough ass everyone will bow down to them. I find that sentiment to be very pessimistic. They obviously don't feel they can win people over through friendship and charm so they have to beat them into submission. Or threaten to hurt them in some financial way. I don't get it. I prefer to think of the glass half full and that people will work with us if we work with them instead of the glass half empty scenerio where the world is against us and we must impose our will.