Personal and Civic Responsibility, and Arms

Some things to think about regarding Arms in society:

"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."

-George Washington

"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 to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."

-Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria in On Crimes and Punishment (1764).

“The inherent right of self-defense has been central to the Second Amendment right...”

-Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, District of Columbia v. Heller

Point One: Arms in a polite society, with knowledge by all that they may be present, reduces criminal activity. With thanks to John Lott and Gary Kleck for their seminal research on the subject; and with thanks to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson for stating something that was obvious even in the 18th century.

An arm of personal defense - a concealable arm if you will - ensures your ability to exercise your right to self defense. This right of self defense was acknowledged long before we had a Constitution, was stated openly in the beginning of the Declaration of Independence ("Right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"), and was recently reaffirmed in the Heller decision.

A free citizen should therefore own a handgun, be proficient in its use, and have it available at all times.

NEXT,

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

-1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)

Point Two: Every citizen should have the means of providing for his own needs and the needs of his family, and to defend the same. To do any less is to abdicate that responsibility to others, whose own interests are not the same, and who will subjugate that person or allow them to perish. In times of economic calamity, civil unrest, or severe disruption of services, a person should be able to put meat on their table and secure their home.

A free citizen should therefore own BOTH a hunting rifle and a shotgun, be proficient in their use, and have them available at all times.

FINALLY,

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God. In acknowledgement whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature."

-The Oath of United States Citizenship

Point Three: New citizens of the United States (those being newly Naturalized) state the above oath to protect and defend the constitution from all enemies Foreign and Domestic. I am of the opinion that all natural-born citizens of the United States should affirm the same oath upon reaching the Age of Majority. All civil servants, military enlistees and officers, and elected and appointed members of Government swear by this same oath. The oath requires the citizenry (all who are not Pacifist Objectors) to be willing and able to take up arms if required to do so.

It is ultimately incumbent upon the citizenry as a whole to defend this country.

A free citizen should therefore own a weapon of the style and type generally considered for use in war (a weapon type usually mislabeled as an "Assault Rifle"), be proficient in its use, and have it available at all times.

Summary: Taken together these three points advocate for the ownership, ready availability, and proficiency in usage of four different weapons. These points advocate for handguns (and shotguns) for defense of person and family, shotguns and rifles for provision of food for person and family, and war rifles for defense of town, city, state, and country.

I believe that these arms are foundational for the success and continued existence of our way of life in the United States. I believe that every able citizen has a duty to self and to others to be sufficient and proficient in their own support. I believe that every able citizen has a duty to defend themselves and to defend their country. I believe that, for an able citizen, anything less than having these abilities and the willingness to use them makes that able citizen a parasite and a drain on society, and one who undermines the very fabric that this society was crafted from.

Please note this very important exception: Persons who are no longer "able" due to injuries or incapacitation incurred in the execution of service to Country should be accorded every benefit that a free society can afford to them. They have paid their price, and they deserve every honor that their service has earned.

This is my stand. What's yours?

Pax,

Newbius