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posted by Aaron Turpen @ 1:26 AM
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Saturday, January 29, 2005
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Sunday, January 23, 2005
Gun Shows
I went to a gun show this weekend. I've gone to several over my lifetime, most of them in recent years as I've become more politically aware.
"Politally aware? Gun shows? How do they go together?" You might ask.
Well, gun shows are hot beds for politics - especially freedom-oriented and conservative politics.
You see, gun shows aren't just about guns. Most freedom-loving people also happen to own firearms. Freedom comes with a price: it must be defended from those who would take it away.
As my good friend Boston T. Party once said at a conference in Montana: "They'll let you read all the Ayn Rand you want in the prison camps. Understanding and talking liberty means nothing if you aren't able to defend it." (OK, maybe not an exact quote, but awful damn close)
You see, politics are an integral part of gun shows. There are the obvious politics surrounding the "Second Amendment isue"--which really just means the misinterpretation of it by freedom-haters who would take away our right to defend liberty.
Take a close look at the Second Amendment. It's not about defending yourself from burglars, rapists, murderers, and so forth... It's about defending yourself from tyrannical government.
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Notice my emphasis there. A militia is defined by Webster, the dictionary of the American language, as "...a body of military persons made up of all able-bodied men in a State, usually between the ages of 15 and 45..."
In other words, a militia, being comprised of able-bodied men between the ages of 15 and 45, is necessary to the security of our state or nation and therefore these people, at the very least, should keep and bear arms.
I'm often amazed that left-leaning (i.e. "liberal") types often interpret the First Amendment as covering everything from dancing naked in the street to writing profanity on a billboard in the name of "art" as being sacrosanct. Those same people, however, scream in fear and belt out "for the children" rhetoric as soon as any mention of gun ownership as a fundamental right is made.
Anyway, back to the politics at gun shows.
At this particular show, I visited a booth for the Constitution Party, a booth for the John Birch Society, and more. There were booths for various gun rights groups, gun clubs, and so forth. Wandering the shows were pamphleteers for a variety of causes. In every aisle were conversations covering political topics such as national sovereignty, state sovereignty, current legislation in Utah's congress, the elections of November, and more.
I saw items of military surplus, a cool repeating rubber band pistol made by my friend Roy, display knives and swords, strange rat-like Australian pets, antique weapons and uniforms, rare old books, camping and survival gear, and much more.
Gun shows involve a lot more than just weapons. They involve the people who enjoy firearms as a sport, a collector's item, a tool, and a lifestyle. People of all races, ages, and sexes congregate at these shows to buy, sell, and trade things related to these things and some things you'd never consider being even closely affiliated with them.
Gun shows are a social phenomenon that you will find only in America and which are, therefore, uniquely American. No other culture in the world celebrates the ownership of weapons as a free person's right quite like we do.
Sadly, we're seeing that celebration and right fade quickly in our emerging fascist system as more and more people become convinced that, somehow, gun ownership is just some kind of "penis worship" which is dangerous to our entire society.
Remember: the British tried to regulate arms and, ultimately, to disarm Americans. That was what started the Revolutionary War in this country. Don't believe me? Read any historical account of the British marching on Lexington and Concord and see WHY they did it...they were after the powder stores...fundamental to the guns of the time.
What will it take for Americans to see that we are once again under that same threat? I'm afraid no one will notice until it's too late and the only way to get back our rights will then be through bloodshed.
-----
Got comments? Email me, dammit!
Permanent link for this article which can be used on any website:
"Politally aware? Gun shows? How do they go together?" You might ask.
Well, gun shows are hot beds for politics - especially freedom-oriented and conservative politics.
You see, gun shows aren't just about guns. Most freedom-loving people also happen to own firearms. Freedom comes with a price: it must be defended from those who would take it away.
As my good friend Boston T. Party once said at a conference in Montana: "They'll let you read all the Ayn Rand you want in the prison camps. Understanding and talking liberty means nothing if you aren't able to defend it." (OK, maybe not an exact quote, but awful damn close)
You see, politics are an integral part of gun shows. There are the obvious politics surrounding the "Second Amendment isue"--which really just means the misinterpretation of it by freedom-haters who would take away our right to defend liberty.
Take a close look at the Second Amendment. It's not about defending yourself from burglars, rapists, murderers, and so forth... It's about defending yourself from tyrannical government.
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Notice my emphasis there. A militia is defined by Webster, the dictionary of the American language, as "...a body of military persons made up of all able-bodied men in a State, usually between the ages of 15 and 45..."
In other words, a militia, being comprised of able-bodied men between the ages of 15 and 45, is necessary to the security of our state or nation and therefore these people, at the very least, should keep and bear arms.
I'm often amazed that left-leaning (i.e. "liberal") types often interpret the First Amendment as covering everything from dancing naked in the street to writing profanity on a billboard in the name of "art" as being sacrosanct. Those same people, however, scream in fear and belt out "for the children" rhetoric as soon as any mention of gun ownership as a fundamental right is made.
Anyway, back to the politics at gun shows.
At this particular show, I visited a booth for the Constitution Party, a booth for the John Birch Society, and more. There were booths for various gun rights groups, gun clubs, and so forth. Wandering the shows were pamphleteers for a variety of causes. In every aisle were conversations covering political topics such as national sovereignty, state sovereignty, current legislation in Utah's congress, the elections of November, and more.
I saw items of military surplus, a cool repeating rubber band pistol made by my friend Roy, display knives and swords, strange rat-like Australian pets, antique weapons and uniforms, rare old books, camping and survival gear, and much more.
Gun shows involve a lot more than just weapons. They involve the people who enjoy firearms as a sport, a collector's item, a tool, and a lifestyle. People of all races, ages, and sexes congregate at these shows to buy, sell, and trade things related to these things and some things you'd never consider being even closely affiliated with them.
Gun shows are a social phenomenon that you will find only in America and which are, therefore, uniquely American. No other culture in the world celebrates the ownership of weapons as a free person's right quite like we do.
Sadly, we're seeing that celebration and right fade quickly in our emerging fascist system as more and more people become convinced that, somehow, gun ownership is just some kind of "penis worship" which is dangerous to our entire society.
Remember: the British tried to regulate arms and, ultimately, to disarm Americans. That was what started the Revolutionary War in this country. Don't believe me? Read any historical account of the British marching on Lexington and Concord and see WHY they did it...they were after the powder stores...fundamental to the guns of the time.
What will it take for Americans to see that we are once again under that same threat? I'm afraid no one will notice until it's too late and the only way to get back our rights will then be through bloodshed.
-----
Got comments? Email me, dammit!
Permanent link for this article which can be used on any website:
posted by Aaron Turpen @ 8:54 PM
0 Comments
