Archive of UserLand's first discussion group, started October 5, 1998.

Re: The need for the 2nd amendment

Author:Eric Kidd
Posted:5/7/1999; 9:37:26 AM
Topic:scriptingNews outline for 5/4/99
Msg #:5790 (In response to 5765)
Prev/Next:5789 / 5791

Would it be fair to say that the Kosovo rebels have found that possessing light armaments did not protect them much against the tanks, planes, and heavy armament of a truly malevolent government?

Well, the Afgans held off the entire Soviet military with a few (non-light) weapons and some international aid. Granted, their nation is now a horrifying mess, but the Russians never really controlled it.

The American Revolution was fought by farmers against one of the most powerful empires in the world. The North Vietnamese didn't do too badly, either.

Guerilla warfare in defense of your home is very effective, particularly in inhospitable terrain or against troops that don't have a good reason to win.

While it sounds good in theory that we can protect ourselves from a despotic government, how would those weapons stand up against the US Military.

Not very well. Most independent nations have trouble standing up against a tiny fraction of the US military. But remember, the US military is dependent upon the American people, and still believes in defending a free nation (even though the "free nations" in question tend to be Kuwait and Kosovo these days).

To successfully defend a nation (or win a revolution), you need money. And you need to be able to spend that money on military-grade weapons. This was true in 1776 and it's true today. If nothing else, the Second Amendment is a token: it represents the right of the people to try to overthrow an oppressive government. The fact that you'd need bigger guns to actually succeed doesn't change the symbolism.

Fortunately, the current US government works, and shows no immediate signs of breaking down.

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