Let Your Gun be Your Constant Companion: The Balance of Power is the Scale of Peace

Balance means equal on both sides. Either we all have access to guns, or none of us do. Let’s be honest: no criminal is going to give up his gun.

“The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside. Horrid mischief would ensue were one-half the world deprived of the use of them; …the weak will become prey to the strong.” ~Thomas Paine

In other words, if no one has a gun, the balance of power is equal. But take away firearms from only a few, and those few will be at the mercy of the ones with the firearms.

And those with firearms would most certainly take advantage of their power.

Right now, certain politicians, our elected officials, are attempting to deprive law-abiding Americans of the use of (or at least restrict the use of) guns.

(This article was originally written in July 2017. Things are clearly worse now.)

They believe that universal background checks and new laws restricting law-abiding citizens’ use of firearms will “discourage and keep the invader and plunderer” (the bad guys) from the “horrid mischief” (robbing, raping and killing) that they do.

However, “some will not” follow the law (the bad guys). So the “balance that would be preserved” will be gone. And “the ruffian” will be allured (the bad guys will be tempted to rob, rape and kill).

Criminals will have guns and the rest of us won’t. We’ll be sitting ducks without a gun to protect ourselves from criminals with guns.

What are our elected officials thinking?

As I think on Thomas Paine’s quote, it is difficult for me to believe that our elected officials really believe that new laws restricting the law-abiding American citizens’ use of arms will actually affect the “invader and plunderer.”

And if they don’t believe that the new laws will have the stated affect, then what is their reason for enacting these new laws?

I can only speculate as to their true intent; however there are enough cases in the history books where depriving the use of arms eventually lead to disaster.

“Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

There are plenty of government officials that have said publicly that they would like to see the Second Amendment abolished and all guns confiscated. The only way (short of a house-to-house search) to end up with confiscation is to start with a registry of all firearms.

The way to end up with a registry of all firearms is to enact laws for everyone to register every firearm they purchase.

Ideology, Personal Agenda, or Ignorance?

There may be some politicians that honestly believe that a universal background check (that “registers” every firearm purchase) would not end up in a data-base controlled by a government office. Those politicians are simply deluding themselves.

My 35 years working for government showed me that the power that comes with position many times lead to decisions based on ideology, their own agenda, or ignorance. Not what’s best for the citizenry.

Related Post: Prejudice & Opposition to Firearms: A 1957 Prophesy

Ask your elected (and appointed) officials if they agree with Thomas Paine. If they don’t agree, do what you can to get them removed from their positions.

If they do agree, ask them what they are doing to ensure that the “balance of power” is not shifting to the “invaders and plunderers.”

Universal background checks and restricting citizens’ use of firearms ultimately shift the balance of power to the criminals.

“The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good” ~George Washington

“…Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion to your walks.” ~Thomas Jefferson, writing to his teenaged nephew.

I believe, like George Washington, that firearms restrain evil interference.

Therefore I will, like Thomas Jefferson suggests, let my firearm be my constant companion. So that I can preserve the balance (should one of those bad guys try to shift it in their favor).

What about you?

Stay Safe…
~ Dave

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