I am half-convinced that civilian firearms [...] matter in the political power equation as Eric Raymond [bio] put it. Eric holds that civilian firearms prevent government from terrorizing the population.
However, numerous examples around the world (Colombia, Rwanda, KKK in the U.S., ex-Yugoslavia) show that governments and colonial rulers use armed (often civilian) minority to control a disarmed majority. There is a fear that Charlton-Heston-white gun owners could be used by an ultra-conservative government to control blacks, hispanics, immigrants, liberals. In such a scenario, the gun owners would have no incentive to fight against government since they would have extra priviledges, except for some moral qualms which are easily rooted out by watching Fox channel. Yet they would like to terrorize other groups who are evil-baby-killers, criminals, foreigners, and such.
With the number of firearms in the U.S., the whole discussion is moot, since there is no way to do away with the guns. We fight the war on terrorism, the war on drugs (the war on terrorism on drugs :-), and the last thing we need is yet another war that stimulates much more terrorism/drugs/guns.
-----
On the side, I gained some respect for NRA and Charlton Heston after reading his excellent speech. A couple of years later, in the movie Bowling for Columbine, Charlton Heston appeared as an Alzheimer-stricken old man that can barely make a sentence. I concluded that the speech was written for him. Nevertheless, the speech still seems relevan, whoever is the author.
Posted by laza at February 3, 2004 12:32 PM"However, numerous examples around the world (Colombia, Rwanda, KKK in the U.S., ex-Yugoslavia) show that governments and colonial rulers use armed (often civilian) minority to control a disarmed majority."
Even more reason to ensure that people aren't disarmed, no? Didn't the Nazi's ban guns as well? By the way, the KKK is neither the givernment nor a colonial rulker. Their weapon of choice was largely the noose and the burning cross, not guns.
Charlton Heston looked like on idiot in Bowling for Columbine because Moore edited it to look that way.
"Even more reason to ensure that people aren't disarmed, no?"
Patrick, you are assuming that your guns would protect you from a government-gone-wild. I fear that such a government would enlist you against other gun-less people. In my mind, there is no persuasive argument for or against disarmament.
KKK was not a governmental institution because Southerners lost the Civil War. Otherwise, it had for some time an unofficial support (turning a blind eye) from the establishment in the South.
thanks
Posted by: penis enlargement at June 30, 2004 12:58 PM