Thursday, January 2, 2020
Monday, December 30, 2019
Brief analysis on Virginia facing gun confiscation in 2020.
Virginia residents may soon learn the reality of 2A "resistance to tyranny." They have guns, but without the power of the State--that is, the constituent states of our Union--they are virtually useless.
Modern counties and cities can try to play that role, but in our country states reign over them. Sheriffs and police chiefs "resisting" can be replaced. And even if not replaced, they and their officers will face the threat of action by the state against themselves, their families, and--most importantly for folks of the political identity most likely to resist this--their FINANCES and CAREERS. The materialism and individual/private focus of conservative-types makes them quite vulnerable to this sort of blackmail. Private citizens should put themselves in the place of these officials: They might be willing to put rounds downrange or, possibly, take a round, but would they risk their livelihoods for a principle? That would be contrary to the very ideological thinking they claim to be defending.
And once the local governments fold--which is a virtual given--the private citizens will lack the legal and political cover for any sort of organized resistance. Individualist/libertarian-types will suddenly be faced with the reality that individual/family resistance is impossible. Even to the degree that they might be willing to submit themselves to a collective, they would be too fearful the State and local authorities to do so:
Imagine: A bunch of Virginians, the descendants of the Revolutionary War patriots, are "secretly" gathered to organize... something. In walks an overweight deputy sheriff, with his gun belt about ready to fall off his hip, a friend of most of the assembled persons, and he says, "Okay, boys. I don't like what's going on any more than you all. But this isn't the answer. If you all break this up and go home, we'll forget this whole thing ever happened." When one of the assembled starts in against the deputy, he says, "Now, Fred, I'm just doing my job here." Gradually, the assembled folks file out to their vehicles--all of which have had their license plates recorded--and this grassroots effort comes to nothing.
You see, that generation of 1775-76 had their respective Colonies/States on their side! That's how it could be done. They didn't fear local authorities, as those authorities were subject to their States.
In the wake of 14A, Americans have lost their sight of how the States hold a sovereignty unto themselves. "States' Rights" is a term eschewed due to PC White Guilt, and a lack of interest by conservative-types in the facts of American civics--a direct result of their devotion to individualism and selfishness--has made explaining this whole matter to them difficult, if not impossible. And so, many of them will do big 2A talk, but when faced with the reality of it, will be flabbergasted at how it totally fails.
No one should say one way or the other how things will work out in Virginia. President Trump has even expressed a certain moral appreciation for "2A sanctuary" movements there (see below). BUT, the big failure here is in the People of Virginia. The "good guys" failed in their civil duty of activism--against, a result of individualism. But more than that, the People in general, due in large part to the changing demographics and their enfranchisement since the 1860s, have lost sight of a basis of American heritage--an armed citizenry.
The Founders never envisioned that latter point. The truth is, they would have taken the view that if a State, responsible to its people, sought to disarm its people--its civilian Militia--then it had that prerogative. 2A was simply to ensure that the federal government would not do so. It was thought that the people of each State would hold their own, with Article 4, Section 4's ensuring of each State a "republican form of government" would secure that. But developments in the last century and a half--including 14A--or so have changed the constituency of our nation. And now we have what we have.
https://twitter.com/EpochTimes/status/1209301173561417729
Contrary to libertarians and the like, the Founders intended the People's private arms to be used in conjunction with the several States against FEDERAL tyranny. Note James Madison's words from Federalist 46:
"Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of."
Modern counties and cities can try to play that role, but in our country states reign over them. Sheriffs and police chiefs "resisting" can be replaced. And even if not replaced, they and their officers will face the threat of action by the state against themselves, their families, and--most importantly for folks of the political identity most likely to resist this--their FINANCES and CAREERS. The materialism and individual/private focus of conservative-types makes them quite vulnerable to this sort of blackmail. Private citizens should put themselves in the place of these officials: They might be willing to put rounds downrange or, possibly, take a round, but would they risk their livelihoods for a principle? That would be contrary to the very ideological thinking they claim to be defending.
And once the local governments fold--which is a virtual given--the private citizens will lack the legal and political cover for any sort of organized resistance. Individualist/libertarian-types will suddenly be faced with the reality that individual/family resistance is impossible. Even to the degree that they might be willing to submit themselves to a collective, they would be too fearful the State and local authorities to do so:
Imagine: A bunch of Virginians, the descendants of the Revolutionary War patriots, are "secretly" gathered to organize... something. In walks an overweight deputy sheriff, with his gun belt about ready to fall off his hip, a friend of most of the assembled persons, and he says, "Okay, boys. I don't like what's going on any more than you all. But this isn't the answer. If you all break this up and go home, we'll forget this whole thing ever happened." When one of the assembled starts in against the deputy, he says, "Now, Fred, I'm just doing my job here." Gradually, the assembled folks file out to their vehicles--all of which have had their license plates recorded--and this grassroots effort comes to nothing.
You see, that generation of 1775-76 had their respective Colonies/States on their side! That's how it could be done. They didn't fear local authorities, as those authorities were subject to their States.
Counties and cities lack the sovereignty and political legitimacy of a State. They are wholly creatures of the States (contrary to "Posse Comitatus"-types). The Founders did not design our Union to have them resist their States. Note this from John Adams:
"To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns, counties or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws."
-- John Adams, A Defence of the Constitutions of the United States 475 (1787-1788)
In the wake of 14A, Americans have lost their sight of how the States hold a sovereignty unto themselves. "States' Rights" is a term eschewed due to PC White Guilt, and a lack of interest by conservative-types in the facts of American civics--a direct result of their devotion to individualism and selfishness--has made explaining this whole matter to them difficult, if not impossible. And so, many of them will do big 2A talk, but when faced with the reality of it, will be flabbergasted at how it totally fails.
No one should say one way or the other how things will work out in Virginia. President Trump has even expressed a certain moral appreciation for "2A sanctuary" movements there (see below). BUT, the big failure here is in the People of Virginia. The "good guys" failed in their civil duty of activism--against, a result of individualism. But more than that, the People in general, due in large part to the changing demographics and their enfranchisement since the 1860s, have lost sight of a basis of American heritage--an armed citizenry.
The Founders never envisioned that latter point. The truth is, they would have taken the view that if a State, responsible to its people, sought to disarm its people--its civilian Militia--then it had that prerogative. 2A was simply to ensure that the federal government would not do so. It was thought that the people of each State would hold their own, with Article 4, Section 4's ensuring of each State a "republican form of government" would secure that. But developments in the last century and a half--including 14A--or so have changed the constituency of our nation. And now we have what we have.
https://twitter.com/EpochTimes/status/1209301173561417729
