Author Topic: The Gun is Civilization  (Read 664 times)

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Offline nw_hunter

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The Gun is Civilization
« on: April 20, 2010, 04:13:25 PM »
This is very well put, but I doubt you could get a liberal to even read it, much less understand the truth of it!

The Gun is Civilization
by Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret)

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.


In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force.


The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in
physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a [armed] mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed.


People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.

Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser.


People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level.

The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight lifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.


When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation... and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.

By Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret)


So the greatest civilization is one where all citizens are equally armed and can only be persuaded, never forced.

 
Freedom Of Speech.....Once we lose it, every other freedom will follow.

Offline mechanic

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2010, 04:22:40 PM »
As someone has said, "God made all men, Sam Colt made all men equal"..............
Molon Labe, (King Leonidas of the Spartan Army)

Offline slim rem 7

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2010, 03:31:49 AM »
good post hunter.. that about says it..slim

Offline Dee

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2010, 05:12:25 AM »
I believe the actual author is Marko Kloos. He has a blog. It was written March 23, 2007. Either way, it is the truth, but wisdom should be placed where it belongs.
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline Sourdough

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2010, 07:29:40 AM »
I've always been told, "A well armed society, is a polite society". 

The most polite society in the world, are the Massai of Southern Africa.  All the men are well armed, and have proven their bravery, by facing and killing a lion with a spear.  That makes for lots of respect amongst your fellow man.
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline Dee

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2010, 07:34:02 AM »
It should certainly convince the lions, although I'm not so sure about the men folk. I've killed big hogs and deer, I wonder how that seats men in my fellow man's eyes?
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2010, 09:42:37 AM »
Dee cats too , now we need only talk size . ;)

Kidding aside here we measure a man by his word and action in most groups of honorable men anyway. I realize its hard to see with all the metro man, gay and mr. mom BS going on these days .
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Online Land_Owner

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2010, 10:37:01 AM »
Kidding aside here we measure a man by his word and action in most groups of honorable men anyway. I realize its hard to see with all the metro man, gay and mr. mom BS going on these days .


Hey-hey-hey!  Easy there.  I resemble that "Mr. Mom" guy some days, although not as frequently since my youngest is now 14.  It is not unmanly to provide for one's children in whatever capacity is fitting at the time.  Sure Mrs. Mom is the best bet, but two bread winner families share responsibilities as they play Dueling Calendars meeting schedules.

The days of the single bread winner family are soon to be lost forever as the sum total of our political administrations have seen to that end in swift accord.

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2010, 10:45:59 AM »
Land_owner , I just don't picture you like what I'm talking about . I agree being a good dad is the true mark of a man . Have 3 myself . I'm talking about the wussy types that are under the finger of some type A cut you off if you don't jump when i speak type woman. You know the type - if you don't wash the clothes or cook you can't go out with your buddies or no fun for you type .
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Dee

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2010, 11:06:01 AM »
I just wonder what this rabbit being chased has to do with carrying a gun? ::)
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2010, 11:17:29 AM »
Guess it takes a man with morals to use a gun for the right reasons
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Online Land_Owner

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2010, 11:57:59 AM »
I carry - all the time.  I am prevented by law from carrying in a lot of the places that I frequent by necessity, businesses, public schools, Federal rocket ranch, etc.  It GALLS me not to be able to carry wherever and whenever.  I AM NOT THE ENEMY!

Offline Dee

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2010, 01:18:10 PM »
  I AM NOT THE ENEMY!


Depends on whom you ask Land_Owner. ;)
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline nw_hunter

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #13 on: April 21, 2010, 03:26:32 PM »
 I AM NOT THE ENEMY!


Depends on whom you ask Land_Owner. ;)

Ain't that the truth.........As far as the feds are concerned, we (Gun Owners) are the Enemy.

I noticed at the Cancer center today, where my wife takes treatments, A sign prohibiting guns and weapons of any kind.......I had my pen knife on me. Did I break a law ::)
Freedom Of Speech.....Once we lose it, every other freedom will follow.

Offline subdjoe

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Re: The Gun is Civilization
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2010, 05:51:28 AM »
 I AM NOT THE ENEMY!


Depends on whom you ask Land_Owner. ;)

Ain't that the truth.........As far as the feds are concerned, we (Gun Owners) are the Enemy.

I noticed at the Cancer center today, where my wife takes treatments, A sign prohibiting guns and weapons of any kind.......I had my pen knife on me. Did I break a law ::)


Did you have on a belt?  Shoes?  Do you have hands and feet?  All sorts of ways to break a "no weapons" rule.
Your ob't & etc,
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Justice Robert H. Jackson - It is not the function of the government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error.