These discussions ALWAYS feature the same 2 weaknesses, or unstated facts.
It is almost always comfortable URBAN city people trying to curb gun ownership. It isn't their hobby, so , hell, why not stop others from doing it?
Why the hell should Torontonians be telling people in Timmins what to do with their lifestyle?
But the REAL issue with gun control is NOT crime. Oh, sure, that is what is pushed in terms of the so-called debate, but the real issue from gun owners point of view is this:
WHO has the final say on the use of force in society, the government, or individuals?
I firmly believe it should be individuals. I believe that ultimately individuals should have enough resources - PHYSICAL resources, - that they can fight back against a totalitarian oppressive regime.
Democracy implies that you believe ultimately in the common sense, and trustworthiness of the common man. Not that they are perfect, or never make mistakes, but that it is far better to trust individuals than a state. Or, God forbid, intellectuals and the chatterring classes.
It is well known that dictatorships and totalitarian states disarm their populations. They don't trust them.
In the 20th century, FAR more people were killed by their own governments than were by criminals. China's Great Leap Forward. Camodia's Khmer |Rouge. Stalin's purges. Dictatorships everywhere kill opponents at will.
So the chatterrring classes poohs poohs this idea, "It can't happen here, this is Canada|"
BS, it CAN happen anywhere.
One example:
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Venezuela
It’s no secret that the Venezuelan government has eviscerated property rights and fundamental civil liberties in the crisis beleaguered country. But how has the Venezuelan government been able to stay in power? The Venezuelan government’s civilian disarmament campaign is an oft-ignored abuse of human rights in discussions concerning Venezuela’s political crisis.
The Venezuelan government started by passing the original
version of the Control of Arms, Munitions and Disarmament Law. Since then, the law has been modified to broaden the scope of the firearms regulated by the Venezuelan Armed forces, who have the power to register, control, and confiscate firearms.
The day of reckoning came when Venezuela
banned the sale of firearms and ammo in 2012, under the guise of fighting crime. Despite the gun ban in place, crime rates continue to
skyrocket.
Now Venezuelans have no way of defending themselves against a government that is free to muzzle their speech, expropriate their wealth, debase their currency, and starve them to death. And if that weren’t enough, the average Venezuelan must contend with the constant threat of common criminals and
colectivos, Venezuela’s infamous pro-government paramilitary units.
Even in the 21st century, the nasty effects of gun confiscation are still being felt.
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When you ban all guns, you effectively eliminate the ability of the population to kick out of power a government by force. The government takes over the judiciary,an arm of the government, (the dictatorship) it becomes then the organs of state power, then VOILA! welcome to the pleasure dome of totalitarianism.
Please, those of you who advocate banning guns, please tell me:
When an oppressive government arrives, destroys independent media and dissent, destoys an independent judiciary - tell me this:
How do you boot the assholes out?