Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Carrying Guns can be Dangerous

Regarding the comments I have received on the "gas bag" posting, I want to clarify a little.
First of all, if someone wishes to support Ed Brown by documenting the events, bringing MRE's, as a look out, or as an armed supporter, I am all for it and am sure that Ed will appreciate their support.
My post was not meant to call anyone a "wuss", but rather to call into question why a libertarian radio show would try to encourage citizens to show up for a standoff unarmed.
I don't advocate initiating violence, and it is clear that the Browns don't either. My opinion is that one should never willingly give up their right to self defense. I live in a relatively nice, low crime area of Utah, but I am always carrying a weapon for self defense. I have a difficult time imagining why someone would go to a place where the suspect that innocent people might be shot at without the means of defending themselves or others. As many concealed carry folks have learned, often the fact that you are willing to kill and have the means to kill is often enough to end a confrontation. I think that a "Waco" or "Ruby Ridge" type situation would have significantly different results if 500 people showed up with rifles and refused to allow the FBI to slaughter innocent people. It is amazing how well mannered people can be when they know that they aren't the only ones with guns.
If people showing their support believe that innocent people will be shot at, why would they NOT be prepared to shoot back. On the other hand, if they believe that the police and other government agents will not start shooting people, then why wouldn't they exercise their right to keep and bear arms?
The reason is because where ever government is involved, they want to be the only ones with guns. They feel safer when no one but them have guns. Why give them the upper hand? Why allow them to disarm you when you intend no one any harm? Why allow them to intimidate you and strip you of your rights without a fight? Hell, with all the video cameras there, why not use this opportunity to show the world that just because someone is armed, doesn't mean that they are unreasonable.
If NH is the "Live Free or Die" state, why aren't people willing to defend their right to a fair trial, and their right to peaceably bear arms, by carrying weapons? I know that there are a lot of good people in NH and a lot of good folks showing up to support the Browns; I just can't understand why they would willingly show up to slaughter without any way to protect themselves. I believe that it is fear of the unknown. The fact is that they don't know what the government will do, but they fear that the government will resort to slaughtering innocents. If that is their belief, why show up and if they are showing up, why not possess the means for resistance and maybe create a "Mexican stand off"?

Related Posts -
Libertarian Gasbags Struggle With Reading Comprehension
Libertarian gas bags in New Hampshire

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

An armed society is a polite society.
-Robert A. Heinlein