I had dinner with my mom last night, and during the meal we had an interesting conversation regarding gun rights and ownership. She asked me who I was going to vote for in next year's election, Obama or Clinton. I told her that I wasn't sure who I was going to vote for, but whoever it is will likely be a Republican. She was surprised, we're a Democratic family, and wanted to know why. I explained to her that I considered gun ownership and the right to bear arms the most important issue, more important than immigration, the economy, Iraq, etc. She wanted to know why.
I explained to her that one of the primary reasons I have a gun is self-defense. I informed her that the police in this country are under no duty to protect individuals, and even if they were, that I am loath to rely on others to preserve my own life. She replied that guns are dangerous. I countered by saying that people are dangerous, guns are merely a tool. "I have guns, are you afraid of me?" I asked her. She said, what kind of a question is that, or course I'm not afraid of you. I explained to her that a gun does not cause any violence, that it is the character of the man holding the gun that she needs to fear. I then made a passing reference to one of my cousins, who sad to say, is criminally inclined. I asked my mom if she thought he had a gun. My mom laughed and said of course he has one. I then asked if she would prefer that people like him and the police were the only people with guns, and that is what happens with gun control laws. I reminded her that the police are under no legal duty to protect individuals. This caused her pause of course. I then told her that I believe in good and evil, right and wrong, and that there are evil people in this world. I refuse to be prey to these predators. I also quoted Col. Cooper who said that "An unarmed man cannot fight evil, he can only flee from it." She nodded in agreement.
My mom then asked me why people should be allowed to own "high-powered" ammunition. I retorted with "why not?" High-powered rifles and ammunition are more effective weapons and they should not be monopolized by the government, despite its arguments to the contrary. Governments are self-serving entities, and those in power are often corrupt. I then made a few references to history, specifically to Nazi Germany and the Marcos-era Philippines. In both circumstances the government disarmed its citizens in its bid to consolidate power. I refuse to be in that situation, relying on wishful thinking and the government's magnanimity for my safety. The private ownership of firearms, whether pistols or military-style rifles, is a safeguard against tyrannical government action. I even made a reference to the movie Blood Diamond where the unarmed villagers were at the mercy of the government and paramilitary thugs. Again my mom nodded in agreement.
My final point to her was that the right to bear arms is a fundamental value and played a role in the formation of this country. The militia was composed of ordinary men, who used their privately owned guns to fight for liberty against the most powerful nation in the world at the time. And that without widespread gun ownership, independence from England likely would not have been possible. Gun ownership is part of the American heritage and it is because of this heritage that Americans remain so fiercely independent and subject to no one.
It was a pretty long conversation. My arguments for the 2nd Amendment could have been better presented, but I wasn't expecting it. Still, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to educated a non-gunnie. I think I got through, my mom called me this morning to tell me that she enjoyed our little talk last night.
I explained to her that one of the primary reasons I have a gun is self-defense. I informed her that the police in this country are under no duty to protect individuals, and even if they were, that I am loath to rely on others to preserve my own life. She replied that guns are dangerous. I countered by saying that people are dangerous, guns are merely a tool. "I have guns, are you afraid of me?" I asked her. She said, what kind of a question is that, or course I'm not afraid of you. I explained to her that a gun does not cause any violence, that it is the character of the man holding the gun that she needs to fear. I then made a passing reference to one of my cousins, who sad to say, is criminally inclined. I asked my mom if she thought he had a gun. My mom laughed and said of course he has one. I then asked if she would prefer that people like him and the police were the only people with guns, and that is what happens with gun control laws. I reminded her that the police are under no legal duty to protect individuals. This caused her pause of course. I then told her that I believe in good and evil, right and wrong, and that there are evil people in this world. I refuse to be prey to these predators. I also quoted Col. Cooper who said that "An unarmed man cannot fight evil, he can only flee from it." She nodded in agreement.
My mom then asked me why people should be allowed to own "high-powered" ammunition. I retorted with "why not?" High-powered rifles and ammunition are more effective weapons and they should not be monopolized by the government, despite its arguments to the contrary. Governments are self-serving entities, and those in power are often corrupt. I then made a few references to history, specifically to Nazi Germany and the Marcos-era Philippines. In both circumstances the government disarmed its citizens in its bid to consolidate power. I refuse to be in that situation, relying on wishful thinking and the government's magnanimity for my safety. The private ownership of firearms, whether pistols or military-style rifles, is a safeguard against tyrannical government action. I even made a reference to the movie Blood Diamond where the unarmed villagers were at the mercy of the government and paramilitary thugs. Again my mom nodded in agreement.
My final point to her was that the right to bear arms is a fundamental value and played a role in the formation of this country. The militia was composed of ordinary men, who used their privately owned guns to fight for liberty against the most powerful nation in the world at the time. And that without widespread gun ownership, independence from England likely would not have been possible. Gun ownership is part of the American heritage and it is because of this heritage that Americans remain so fiercely independent and subject to no one.
It was a pretty long conversation. My arguments for the 2nd Amendment could have been better presented, but I wasn't expecting it. Still, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to educated a non-gunnie. I think I got through, my mom called me this morning to tell me that she enjoyed our little talk last night.
