How many of you own guns as a means to defend you and yours against the Government &/or to participate in it's overthrow?
I own guns because it's my birthright as an American. It has been for over 200 years. I own guns because I like to shoot, and because I respect history. It also helps me keep in touch with my former military service, which represented a notable period of my life. That, in fact, prompted me to purchase my first firearm to complement the .22s I grew up with from age seven.
At the core, though, gun ownership represents that I still have individual rights as an American and the means to at least give pause to those who would ignore my rights out of self interest, whether that be a criminal intent on rape robbery or murder, or an angry mob or the government.
Frankly, though, it is obvious that over the years a great many fellow citizens have decide that being well kept subjects is more important than being a free American, with all the messiness that freedom can bring with it. You don't just see it on the 2nd -- the 4th and 5th have been gradually eviscerated by the Republicans while the Democrats chop away at the 2nd (and I bet the senior republican leadership is no true friend of the 2nd at the end of the day). In fact, we may just get to see Bush Lite sign that AWB, like he said he would if one were placed on his desk. Meanwhile, as long as American Idol comes on at it's regularly scheduled time there is no outrage. "As long as you have nothing to hide... Think of the Children... Praise the lord and pass the remote control." The 1st is more strongly defended, given it's the core of the mainstream media, but the "think of the children" attacks are already underway there.
The elites who are on the other side of our widening class war, who want illegals as cheap labor for their corporate benefactors and who sell out our manufacturing base to near slave labor in 3rd world countries -- elites both conservative and liberal (lets not forget the plethora of limousine liberals) -- no doubt feel a bit uneasy with the idea of Joe laid off factory worker and his thousands of peers having access to firearms at the foot of their secure, gated communities.
Just how likely is a worst case scenario? Personally I think we'll go out with a whimper rather than a bang. Effectively, and in our own name and with full knowledge and majority approval, giving away rights that will likley never return. But...
What would happen if the terrorists really scored one with a nuke? What governement would come out of that? How long would the martial law last? What new "patriot" act would be passed? How long would elections be suspended? Personally, I think that one is up in the air.
We've recently seen the New Orleans police confiscate guns from legal owners in their own homes at a time when the government wasn't able to protect them. We've see legislators call laws meant to prevent that from happening in the future "insanity." So no, I don't think we're "past all that."
I own guns for a lot of purposes, and many of those are higher on the day-to-day list of personal priorities than arming the bunker for Revolution II. But, I do have a fundamental respect for the 2nd, and the rest of the BOR for that matter, that is both deep and serious.
Charon
