Every time gun control hits the news, people are arguing over which new laws government needs to dictate. As adults, it is our responsibility first and foremost to assess ourselves. Think of the mote and beam parable before braying for legislation.
If you are considering buying a gun, consider the following questions for yourself first.
- Are you inclined to drug or alcohol abuse?
- Do you have a short temper, struggle with road rage, or otherwise tend to create or escalate conflicts?
- Do you struggle with depression or suicidal thoughts?
These might be warning signs that you have more urgent priorities which need to be addressed first before spending money on a firearm.
Now, consider your circumstances.
- Do you live with children, or with people who might have their own issues with the above questions? If so, can you secure your firearm so they cannot harm themselves or others?
- If your firearm is intended for self-defense, especially concealed carry in public, are you at greater risk of harm from law enforcers than lawbreakers?
- Are you familiar with your local laws regarding use of lethal force in self-defense?
The first point should be common sense. As for the other two, I don't have a lot of respect for legislators, legislation, or law enforcement, but whether their authority is legitimate or not, there is a real threat to be considered, albeit more so in some jurisdictions than others.
Finally, if you are confident after considering those points, it might actually be time to think about a gun. I would suggest visiting a shooting range which rents various guns to try, and take a firearm safety course at the bare minimum. As for what gun to consider, I know nothing about you, your circumstances, or your needs, but I wrote a series on the various types of guns one might consider as a survival or self-defense firearm. Once again, some questions might help you narrow the scope of possibilities to find the best solution for yourself.
- Is your primary intended purpose hunting, self-defense, competition shooting, or something else?
- Will you carry your firearm often, and if so, will it be carried openly or concealed?
- What is your budget, and have you accounted for the various ancillary expenses like tools, cleaning chemicals, training classes, holsters/slings/cases, magazines/clips with associated pouches and carriers, and most of all, ammunition?
The only gun control that works is self-control. Assess your mental state, your situation, and your budget so you can make a wiser decision for yourself instead of waiting for some stranger to make decisions on your behalf with no thought for your needs.
This is a really good post..
As with most things, I assumed the worst, but while reading it, I realized that your not insinuating anything or making definitive statements.. you just laid the questions out there, and allowed the reader to think for their selves, and to reflect and answer the questions.. for themselves.
thanks for this.
The reason I have my firearms is because: "All able bodied citizens age 17-65 are members of the unorganized militia. A well regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state. Gun confiscation is the big sign or an imminent tyranny and despotism, so I'd like to be at the tip of the spear if/when it comes to that, or if/when the government is trying to force its will upon me, I want them to know that I am not a soft target, and will not abide by tyrannical edicts.
I have a really bad feeling about this new wave of reactionary gun control legislation. Most Democrats, and a lot of Republicans for that matter, are wholly ignorant about guns but absolutely certain new laws solve problems. Meanwhile, the gun community is tired of the string of "compromises" imposed on them since the 1930s while being blamed for every failure of government.
Its the congresses duty to prescribe the training for the unorganized militia...
It is because of their abrogation of their duty, that we have a "gun problem".
We are all conscripted into military service if/when the time comes.. not that we should be enlisted like switzerland and regulated as tightly as they are.. but it would be nice to have some community and training.. that is some of the best things of the military that veterans constantly talk about missing the most about their service.
I think the lack of thought about community self defense, is a lot of the reason why we are all at each others throats, and have made each other our own worst enemies
Wouldn't the militia training protocol be at most a state function?
If you look into it, I am pretty sure that congress is supposed to set and prescribe the militia training.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/article-1/section-8/clause-15%E2%80%9316/regulation-of-the-militia
The power of Congress over the militia “being unlimited, except in the two particulars of officering and training them . . . it may be exercised to any extent that may be deemed necessary by Congress. . . . The power of the state government to legislate on the same subjects, having existed prior to the formation of the Constitution, and not having been prohibited by that instrument, it remains with the States, subordinate nevertheless to the paramount law of the General Government. . . .”1789 Under the National Defense Act of 1916,1790 the militia, which had been an almost purely state institution, was brought under the control of the National Government.
U.S. constitution: Article I, Section 8, Clause 16:
[The Congress shall have Power . . . ] To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
although it can be argued that Militia with a capital M is pertaining to the Organized Militia (Marine corps, air force, navy, etc.) and not the unorganized who is necessary to the security of a free state and, who's right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C16-1/ALDE_00001078/
the waters are pretty muddy...
Even if we grant the presumption of legitimate authority to the government and its constitution, an act of congress cannot exceed the delegated authority of the founding document. Congress has the delegated authority to raise and equip an army, and to call forth the militia according tothe core document; but not to infringe on the right of the people to keep and bear arms per the 2nd amendment.
your right.. and act of congress can NOT exceed the founding document.. IF and WHEN it has.. the government has dissolved itself, and is no longer legitimate, and is sitting De-facto until the people correct it's course by conducting the process again of forming local civil bodies politic, legislatures, and eventually the continental congress, and reforming the government as they see fit.
no.. not to infringe on the rite.. their DUTY is to SET and PRESCRIBE the TRAINING for the unorganized militia. according to the National Defense Act of 1916. not that anything they have done even before that, has been "constitutional"...
Keep in mind... WOMEN DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE until 1920..
but yea.. blacks were 2/3rds of a person.. women were still 0%
I fully believe in that little portion of the 2A about our rights shall not be infringed. The gov does not give two craps about these shootings that kick off new legislation. The sole purpose is to push us closer to becoming Australia, Canada...
I would dare to say that actors within or deeply tied to the feds have a hand in these active shooter events.
Well, there have been plenty of "FBI foils FBI terror plot after FBI gives the dumbest kid in the mosque bomb parts" stories. I'm surprised at how little the wider public seems to care about the California info leak on every approved and denied CCW license. Is this the system we want to have a monopoly on guns and in power to decide who can own what? Even the most brain-dead state-lover should see the problem there.
That's the thing. Some of us do care. The rest are in a slumber as long as they have FB, IG, pro sports, beer and Netflix to keep them occupied. I think people are waking up slowly but it is taking extreme assaults on our liberty to do it.
Truer words were never spoke. There are some rational considerations lucidly stated in this post, and I am glad you made it. I hope it helps folks assess their need for and ability to manage personal arms.
Thanks!