An Armed Society
[1/18/2005]
"An armed society is a polite society"
What does this phrase mean? I never have liked it, to me it implies that people will be polite out of fear because they will be afraid someone will blow them away if they offend them. I know many people who carry firearms, I myself carry daily. I don't know a single person who carries who would not be offended at this idea - the idea of carrying as an intimidation over others is frankly a detestable idea. I believe however that the phrase still may be true, in a different way.
The other day while driving home from work after dark, I left the interstate and drove around the off ramp around the corner. I began to slow for the red light and then noticed a car making a right turn at the light, partially obstructed by bushes- no tail lights or blinker. If the light had been green I may not have seen the car fast enough to stop since it was dark. The light turned green and the people in the car seemed agitated as it just sat there- I realized the car had broken down.
We were basically out in the middle of nowhere. Traffic was light, but there was enough chance that the car could be rear ended that I wanted to help. I hit my hazard lights and threw on my coat over my Beretta 9mm on my hip and walked up to the car in front of me. Two women were in the car, and guess what? Their car had broken down. With no parking lots to push the car to, we called the police and I stayed with my flashers on until the police arrived. I assisted the police in blocking what little traffic was there so he could drive up behind the broken down car and then he told me I could go and thanked me for the help. I went home.
In the middle of nowhere, a couple things crossed my mind. Is this a trap? Things like this happen, two people act like they need help and they end up robbing you and taking your car- sometimes the victim will be killed. More likely, the car is broken down and with nowhere to push the car these people may need help- I didn't know if they even had a phone. However, given the high rate of the former situation in my area, I would not have helped had I not been armed. About a year ago I helped a few people in a car that had run out of gas. Ends up they had just stolen the car. Luckily I was able to turn them in after helping them (I wasn't about to start a situation), and they were caught before the one who had left to get gas returned. Something about a broken steering column and a screwdriver for a key screamed "stolen" to me.
I thought about it over the next few days, and I began to recall several situations where I was more willing to offer help to people simply because I have the ability to defend myself. I have found that the "polite society" can refer to those who are armed instead of the intimidated unarmed gunphobic person. One big reason that our society is so unwilling to help another is because no one can trust someone they don't know. I feel far more willing to help if I have the ability to defend myself if I ever need to.
"An armed society is a polite society"
What does this phrase mean? I never have liked it, to me it implies that people will be polite out of fear because they will be afraid someone will blow them away if they offend them. I know many people who carry firearms, I myself carry daily. I don't know a single person who carries who would not be offended at this idea - the idea of carrying as an intimidation over others is frankly a detestable idea. I believe however that the phrase still may be true, in a different way.
The other day while driving home from work after dark, I left the interstate and drove around the off ramp around the corner. I began to slow for the red light and then noticed a car making a right turn at the light, partially obstructed by bushes- no tail lights or blinker. If the light had been green I may not have seen the car fast enough to stop since it was dark. The light turned green and the people in the car seemed agitated as it just sat there- I realized the car had broken down.
We were basically out in the middle of nowhere. Traffic was light, but there was enough chance that the car could be rear ended that I wanted to help. I hit my hazard lights and threw on my coat over my Beretta 9mm on my hip and walked up to the car in front of me. Two women were in the car, and guess what? Their car had broken down. With no parking lots to push the car to, we called the police and I stayed with my flashers on until the police arrived. I assisted the police in blocking what little traffic was there so he could drive up behind the broken down car and then he told me I could go and thanked me for the help. I went home.
In the middle of nowhere, a couple things crossed my mind. Is this a trap? Things like this happen, two people act like they need help and they end up robbing you and taking your car- sometimes the victim will be killed. More likely, the car is broken down and with nowhere to push the car these people may need help- I didn't know if they even had a phone. However, given the high rate of the former situation in my area, I would not have helped had I not been armed. About a year ago I helped a few people in a car that had run out of gas. Ends up they had just stolen the car. Luckily I was able to turn them in after helping them (I wasn't about to start a situation), and they were caught before the one who had left to get gas returned. Something about a broken steering column and a screwdriver for a key screamed "stolen" to me.
I thought about it over the next few days, and I began to recall several situations where I was more willing to offer help to people simply because I have the ability to defend myself. I have found that the "polite society" can refer to those who are armed instead of the intimidated unarmed gunphobic person. One big reason that our society is so unwilling to help another is because no one can trust someone they don't know. I feel far more willing to help if I have the ability to defend myself if I ever need to.
posted by Calan at 16:41
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