Lessons form Katrina, pt 1

Lessons from Katrina, pt 1

There is some seriously fucked stuff going on in the United States of America right now. An AMERICAN city closely resembling some crappy third world hole in the ground is only the beginning of it. There are so many rants going on in my head right now I can barely contain them all. Instead of yelling and screaming at my computer and TV, I think it’s best to break them down into the lessons I am learning from this tragedy.

Arm myself. That’s the lesson for today. I’ve always had access to guns. Owned a few, though I don’t have any right now. Never really thought much about it, I could borrow guns if I wanted them, though not necessarily immediately. I’ve always been a big supporter of the Second Amendment (odd that the Bill of Rights even needs to be defended). Always told people THEY should own a firearm. Always knew I'd get a couple eventually.

For the last couple of years I’ve been putting off buying some new guns because the ones I want are more expensive than the funds I normally have available to me ( DSA-58, Sig p220, Ithica 37 M). Figured, maybe the next side job. Maybe the next paycheck. No more excuses. No more waiting. Arming myself to protect my family, friends and possessions is now my new paramount concern. Cut back on the booze, cut back on the dining out, cut back on everything until I have what I need.

When I see how far this country has slid, I can no longer trust some of my fellow Americans. In most places and most times in this great country events like this bring people together, everyone helping each other out. However, too many times our criminal and welfare culture has so far eroded the decency of enough people, that even in the most tragic of situations animal instincts still take over and looting and rioting become the norm. New Orleans is not Rwanda, but give the police more pressing concerns and I can’t tell the deference between the two. Headlines in both cases have the words "looting" in them, what's next Warlords?

With our cultural bonds breaking down, civil interaction substituted for violence, and a class of people whom long ago forsook the social contract, force is the only hope for the rest of us. When the government cannot exercise that force then an armed citizenry is often the best, last, and only defense.

I will not be an unarmed victim. This is the second time I’ve seen in 10 years (LA early 90’s) Americans, devoid of direct police authority, behaving in a manner unbefitting of members of a western civilization. Liberal excuses of years of repression, poverty and other so-called injustices do not give anyone the right to loot or rob from others. Don’t give me this "it's all about the food" bullshit either. I can understand taking some water or food from a store, however don’t deprive others because you weren’t prepared or smart enough to handle a disaster. Even less justified, most of the looting taking place now has nothing to do with necessities, it’s all TV’s , jewelry and luxury items. Stealing a leather sofa and then going back for the matching end tables does not make you a modern day Robinhood.

If it has happened twice, this type of behavior will happen again. Even worse, every year that we slip further and further away from our fundamental American values of hard work and self reliance, behavior like this will become more common place. I will be ready if it happens to me. I will not lose everything I have because I relied on someone else for either protection or to respect our shared social contract. Armed response is an option I will have.

I will not go down whimpering.

I won't beg for what's mine.

Otter

UPDATE - Welcome readers from Smallest Minority. If you are not from TSM, head over there and read Awakenings I, II, and III.

UPDATE 2 - Yeah Rev, I am serious. I might have used a little more rhetoric than I should have but there are a couple of basic facts that when put together I can’t believe anyone wouldn’t come to the same conclusion I have.

1. There are people in our society who only curtail their actions ONLY because of fear of violence and not because of other moral consideration (afraid to go to jail or die).
2. Traditionally, the government, with its monopoly on violence is the source of fear (police using force to take you to jail or kill you).
3. There are times when the government is not capable of exercising its authority to create fear (New Orleans).
4. Natural law gives all men the right to defend ones self.

Owning and knowing how to operate firearms is really the only way to protect yourself when the rules of society break down. Give it a shot, type looting into Google News… See if it doesn’t make you sick, but then look for the stories where lives and property are saved by application of or threat of violence.

Otter