ANALYSIS OF RESULTS:
Most respondents put A (CCW PISTOL) as top priority. One put C ("MILITIA" RIFLE) as top. None put B (HOME DEFENSE PCC/SHOTGUN). Indeed, most put it last. This latter point is may be due to pistols and full-power rifles being able to fulfill that role. Putting C as the priority might also be influenced by a view that if such full-size arms can be preserved, it will be unlikely that pistols will be banned.
ANALYSIS OF MATTER:
In 2018, I offered the following with regard to affirmative advocacy, with an A-B-C priority, based on the situation at the time--"Resistance" insurrection, assaults on MAGA-hatters, and the course of the time toward a Federalist 46 State-based civil war in support of President Trump:
My own take on the question is that A-CCW Pistol arms should be the priority, but for an additional reason to what is given above: HERITAGE. As TDF has been saying, regardless of the Steal, America--that is, its PEOPLE--has grown more liberal. Demographics cannot be denied. Only our Electoral College system--a very UNdemocratic institution--has preserved us institutionally. With the Steal, and barring Federalist 46 action, our heritage is becoming an endangered species. As I said in TDF 22, regarding a certain cooperation with liberal gun owners:
I confess, prior to the Steal--back when I thought the American people might actually stand against the tyranny that 2A purists had claimed was the target of their keeping of higher-end arms--I was much more inclined toward concern about civil war. I didn't want the enemy armed when we--per Federalist 46--had to kill them to save Western heritage. Now, though, with the American people failing, and the preservation of American and Western national heritage on the verge of becoming a subculture waiting for the time to rise and reestablish our rightful place, conditions on the ground require a shift-fire.
The idea of the liberal was that they--liberals--were key to retaining RKBA, essentially since they were the voting base of the liberals taking guns away. Yes, I know. And yet he made a point, which I acknowledged in a comment on his video:
As a Rightwing Patriot, I will say that you make a partial point on the effect of liberal gun ownership on liberal politicians, but only a partial point. The post-2YK/9-11 and 2020 growth in lower-end gun ownership--particularly handguns--can and should be used in preserving some base-level RKBA in coming years. But it will likely have no real effect on efforts against higher-end arms--ARs and the like. Things like PISTOL hicap bans might be combatted--liberals bought 9mm's with truly "standard capacity" mags, and might want to keep them), but semi-auto long guns and AW characteristics will continue to be targeted.
As a Rightwing Patriot, I will say that you make a partial point on the effect of liberal gun ownership on liberal politicians, but only a partial point. The post-2YK/9-11 and 2020 growth in lower-end gun ownership--particularly handguns--can and should be used in preserving some base-level RKBA in coming years. But it will likely have no real effect on efforts against higher-end arms--ARs and the like. Things like PISTOL hicap bans might be combatted--liberals bought 9mm's with truly "standard capacity" mags, and might want to keep them), but semi-auto long guns and AW characteristics will continue to be targeted.
The fact is that, apart from low-end "hunting" rifles perhaps, handgun ownership far and away holds the best chance of getting the biggest 2A-related support, even--maybe especially--in Blue States. It's core Heller, and normal pistols are less "scary-looking" than most tactically-geared long guns. It is with handguns that escaping magazine capacity limits--or at least making them far more reasonable than the usual ten (twenty would cover virtually all "standard-capacity" ones)--has the best chance.
On the Heritage factor specifically--and in keeping with the fudd theme of this series, though departing from the above reference to magazines--the REVOLVER stands particularly strong as representative of our heritage: In TDF 27, I wrote:
And the most iconic American arm still meaningful, rivaled only by a lever-action rifle, is the revolver. Essentially the invention of American COL Samuel Colt, it spawned the saying, "God created all men, but Colonel Colt made all men equal." Historian John Dunham said of the early Colt Patterson model, "This may be the most important design in gun history."
This rolls into the issue of B-Home Defense arms. Pistol-caliber carbines (PCCs) can alternately be described as "overgrown handguns" or "semi-automatic submachine guns." In the former setting, legal arguments can be drawn from Heller's pistol focus, noting explicitly their lesser power than full-power rifles (C-Militia arms). In this vein, a pistol exemption from magazine limits might be extended to PCCs as "pistol-caliber" and taking the same magazines as the pistols.
Similarly, this could roll into arguments drawing on the carbines' (and shotguns') descent from the "blunderbuss to ward off burglars" the 1688/89 English Bill of Rights' arms provision was interpreted to guarantee--"See?! Blunderbusses have been a right since 1688, Your Honor."
In the latter casting, PCCs are shown to have "social work" value. It is of note that the Versailles Treaty actually treated SMGs as "police" weapons, and thus not as restricted to Weimar Germany as even Mauser 98s were. (This may account for the heavy use of MP-38/40s and other SMGs later in World War 2.) A similar distinction appears in American use of the Thompson SMG: The Army largely rejected it; with the Navy and Marines making only limited use of it. By and large, it was seen as being for police and criminals. (This would change, of course--see the pre-Heller CAN THE SIMPLE CITE BE TRUSTED?: LOWER COURT INTERPRETATIONS OF UNITED STATES V. MILLER AND THE SECOND AMENDMENT (guncite.com) and its discussion of the 1942 Cases decision.)
This historical background could serve the following:
This historical background could serve the following:
1. Help make them "not military" in a liberal court's eyes.
2. Demonstrate their value as "posse" (low-level Militia) value in terms of civilian aiding of law enforcement:
Looking at the situation in other cases of Western heritage being overwhelmed by foreign influences--i.e., Rhodesia and South Africa--I am forced to wonder how useful C-Militia arms might be in such a setting. The big battle was lost without, in some cases, any kinetic stand. Then--there and here--we have seen assaults being largely when good people were out and about more than assaults on homes, which points to CCW being a tactical priority. In a generation or so, when Western (yes, that means largely White) people in America are an overtly oppressed people, as is the case in the aforementioned occupied countries in Africa, rules of engagement will likely be so restrained that a pistol is about as good as a long gun in any case. Our people will be specially observed, and should thus keeping a weapon, uh, "inconspicuous" in one's home become a serious benefit, the handgun holds an edge.
In terms of original vision of 2A, there is no question that C-Militia arms would be the priority. As noted in TDF 10, the early colonists and settlers largely traded their B-Home Defense arms--"blunderbusses"--for full-power arms of the time, thus making them and relatively rare handguns the functionaries of the core Blackstone defense right. A C-Militia arm was fired as the "shot heard 'round the world." Such arms and their descendants led the settlement of the American West--though it was probably the SHOTGUN (B-Home Defense) that truly tamed the land. And of course, a full-power long gun is key to the ultimate Militia vision of the Founders.
In terms of original vision of 2A, there is no question that C-Militia arms would be the priority. As noted in TDF 10, the early colonists and settlers largely traded their B-Home Defense arms--"blunderbusses"--for full-power arms of the time, thus making them and relatively rare handguns the functionaries of the core Blackstone defense right. A C-Militia arm was fired as the "shot heard 'round the world." Such arms and their descendants led the settlement of the American West--though it was probably the SHOTGUN (B-Home Defense) that truly tamed the land. And of course, a full-power long gun is key to the ultimate Militia vision of the Founders.
BUT, today we are rapidly becoming not the same country we were. An Election Steal went unopposed, despite the vast numbers of AW-class arms in the hands of Patriots at the call of State governments in a Federalist 46 stand against it. Culture is turning by the minute, with Leftwing movements using conservatives' and libertarians' own self-focus, materialism, and "freedom" against them. The deprecation of American heritage exceeds that of the 1960s, and two more non-White States may soon join the Union.
[As an aside: In the event of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia actually becoming States, perhaps the anti-American insurrection will, instead of simply adding two stars to Old Glory, get truly "woke" and create an entirely different flag, as their comrades in Rhodesia and South Africa did. Such would create a hard break between the America of our heritage, and a successor state not worthy of the name.]
Unless we see a massive change in sentiment before the imminent gun legislation takes effect, our fight as Patriots will be, as stated before, as
[As an aside: In the event of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia actually becoming States, perhaps the anti-American insurrection will, instead of simply adding two stars to Old Glory, get truly "woke" and create an entirely different flag, as their comrades in Rhodesia and South Africa did. Such would create a hard break between the America of our heritage, and a successor state not worthy of the name.]
Unless we see a massive change in sentiment before the imminent gun legislation takes effect, our fight as Patriots will be, as stated before, as
...a subculture waiting for the time to rise and reestablish our rightful place...
Please consider.
Please consider.
CONCLUSION:
C-Militia arms: If of sufficient effectiveness and with a genuine development of a new cooperation on the conservative/Right and among Patriots--meaning, libertarianism is dead--with distinct communities (enclaves) retaining our traditional heritage (anyone remember an old 1990s TV show, "Time Trax"?), akin to Indian reservations, I can see a reason for making them the priority: More Community Defense function and less of a threat present on the streets. ARs and my "Homeland Defense Rifle" suggestions (TDF 19) in large numbers would be a formidable force, even with the polity subsumed in a Globalist parody of the country I love.
Yet, my hopes for such cannot at this time override the present reality, and it is irresponsible to put too many resources into what may be a lost cause. The official TDF position is that A-CCW Pistols ought to be the top priority, even if limited to revolvers. Unless a serious enclave system as described is developed, the tactical advantage of being armed while in public and the probability of success in preserving that RKBA win the day for it.
Which is not to say that full-power rifles would have NO role, of course:
Yet, my hopes for such cannot at this time override the present reality, and it is irresponsible to put too many resources into what may be a lost cause. The official TDF position is that A-CCW Pistols ought to be the top priority, even if limited to revolvers. Unless a serious enclave system as described is developed, the tactical advantage of being armed while in public and the probability of success in preserving that RKBA win the day for it.
Which is not to say that full-power rifles would have NO role, of course:
But the tactical truth is, less-than-AW arms like more traditional "hunting rifles" can fulfill some of this purpose. And they would be more politically viable. There is, of course, something of a spectrum in this category--from ARs to my "Homeland Defense Rifle" concept to old military bolt-actions. Given the levels of necessity, to the degree C-Militia arms are prioritized, I hope gunners will see the value in that lower-ball HDR approach. "Featureless" firepower is still firepower.
Bottom line, it is the class here most likely--almost certain--to be banned or restrictively regulated, and the political support for it is low.
B-Home Defense arms: The prospect of rolling them as "extended Heller"--either as "pistol-caliber" or "home-defense shotgun"--is too great to ignore. In a setting where we see too many solid majorities in favor of AW bans, such can act as limited surrogates. Between that and the fact home defense holds by far the largest support of real 2A action, these "modern blunderbusses" technically hold the second priority.
Bottom line, its political strength is as an extension of pistols, and current sentiments in society favor pistols. A "blunderbuss" perspective can be built as well.
A-CCW Pistol arms: The baseline is the priority. Most practical in everyday life. Largest possible coalition today, as they often take the place of B-Home Defense long arms. The Heritage factor.
C-Militia arms are powerful. B-Home Defense arms are effective. But only A-CCW pistols hold sufficient appeal at this time. And ultimately, in the general American setting now, keeping B- or C- while losing A is highly unlikely. If pistols are lost, the long guns probably will as well.
ADDENDUM: Remember, pistols can act as seed guns, to acquire more powerful arms from enemy occupiers (per Liberators and Deer Guns). Just sayin'.
Bottom line, it is the class here most likely--almost certain--to be banned or restrictively regulated, and the political support for it is low.
B-Home Defense arms: The prospect of rolling them as "extended Heller"--either as "pistol-caliber" or "home-defense shotgun"--is too great to ignore. In a setting where we see too many solid majorities in favor of AW bans, such can act as limited surrogates. Between that and the fact home defense holds by far the largest support of real 2A action, these "modern blunderbusses" technically hold the second priority.
Bottom line, its political strength is as an extension of pistols, and current sentiments in society favor pistols. A "blunderbuss" perspective can be built as well.
A-CCW Pistol arms: The baseline is the priority. Most practical in everyday life. Largest possible coalition today, as they often take the place of B-Home Defense long arms. The Heritage factor.
C-Militia arms are powerful. B-Home Defense arms are effective. But only A-CCW pistols hold sufficient appeal at this time. And ultimately, in the general American setting now, keeping B- or C- while losing A is highly unlikely. If pistols are lost, the long guns probably will as well.
ADDENDUM: Remember, pistols can act as seed guns, to acquire more powerful arms from enemy occupiers (per Liberators and Deer Guns). Just sayin'.
Thank you to all who participated in this survey.
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