Monday, December 31, 2012

On guns, our public servants, and Freedom.

After reading this post by Silicon Graybeard, I was reminded of the movie Farewell to the King, specificaly the part where British Army Captain Fairbourne, on his way to see General MacArthur, asks a reluctant Learoyd, an American deserter who is now "King" of the Dayak tribe on Borneo, what he'd like in return for his tribe's assistance in the war against Japan.

Capt. Fairbourne: What do you want?
Learoyd: Freedom, to be like we are.
Capt. Fairbourne: Anything else?
Learoyd: Guns. So they can't take the freedom away.
Capt. Fairbourne: Well, I'll see what I can do.
Learoyd: And grenades, mortars and mines, so they can't take the guns away.

When I heard that last line the first time that I saw this movie, I was so caught up in the moment that I stood up and yelled "YES!" as loudly as I could, much to the amusement of other people in the theater and to the mortification of my then girlfriend who had dragooned me to see this movie. But I'm reminded of that moment every time that our elected public "servants" start talking about taking our guns away from us.

In 1775, the British marched on Concord to seize the people's guns.

In 1835 the Mexicans marched on Gonzales to seize the people's guns.

Neither attempt at confiscation was successful but both kicked off something that the government forces later came to regret. The question before us now is a simple one: Does our current government learn from the past mistakes of others? As they talk openly of coming for our high-capacity magazines and our fighting rifles, I really have to wonder.

Because I'm really quite fond of my rifles.

12 comments:

  1. Personally, I don't believe they 'realize' they are starting down a road they will NOT like... Just sayin...

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  2. Anonymous11:33 PM

    I agree with Old NFO

    Happy New Year to you and Murphy

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  3. I'm with NFO. Those intent on our disarming have never smelt the smoke nor seen the evil that men do up close and personal. They can't learn and won't listen.

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  4. How come you want freedom and guns, yet want marijuana to remain illegal and don't want gay marriage? Marijuana usage and gay marriage are simply more freedom. Don't you see the hypocrisy there?

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  5. They seldom pay attention to history, and when they *do* they convince themselves that they are far, far smarter than anyone who came before them.

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  6. Happy New Year.

    Keep your powder dry.

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  7. An army does not fight on guns alone. Think also of command structure - the farmers of Massachusetts had been drilled and, when the time came, they did as instructed to operate as a single entity, applying resistance where needed, not at random. Think communication - riders were dispatched to activate the militia and tell it where to collect. Think food. Places to sleep. Medical for the injured. Intelligence about the opposition - what are they doing, where are they, how many? If there is to be a confrontation, what is the terrain? Places of concealment? Vehicular access or boots only?
    Guns, yes, but much more.

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  8. Forget old "Silverbacks" like me. Do they forget there is a large cadre of young men and women who "have seen the elephant" up close in the past two decades? Seems they could meet the needs Ed Skinner has brought forth.

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  9. Yes, concur..and they will regret it again.

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  10. They are superior. They have no need to study or learn from history because it is irrelevent to their enlightened selves.

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  11. @ fels: I've never said anything here about gay marriage. Sounds like you're projecting again. If you're going to be a troll, please try to at least be a troll that pays attention and gets my positions right.

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