The Gun Is Civilation ..... !

JohnHenry · 10-04-2011, 10:22 AM

The Gun is Civilization
Written on October 4, 2011 by Maj. L. Caudill, USMC (Ret.)

4

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that’s it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force.

The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad “force equations.” These are the people who think that we’d be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for an armed mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger’s potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat – it has no validity when most of a mugger’s potential marks are armed.

People who argue for the banning of arms, ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that’s the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.

Then there’s the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser.

People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don’t constitute lethal force, watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip, at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier, works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level.

The gun is the only weapon that’s as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight lifter. It simply would not work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn’t both lethal and easily employable.

When I carry a gun, I don’t do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I’m looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don’t carry it because I’m afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn’t limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation… And that’s why carrying a gun is a civilized act !!

marlin795 · 10-04-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats.

I have had this happen to me as I was walking to my car, the only thing that stopped 5 thugs coming right at me and my car with baseball bats was my Taurus .38 Special. I was open carrying at the time, as is legal in Cali if the gun is unloaded, I saw the thugs, pulled the .38 out, popped the cylinder open, dropped in 6 rounds with a speedloader,snapped it shut, then put it back in the holster, the thugs saw this and turned around and went and stood watching me from a couple blocks away, then I saw them coming back to me and my car. I got out, popped the trunk, loaded up my shotgun and just stood there. They finally realized I was armed to the teeth and left me alone for good. Only happened once but scared me half to death. I've seen them since when I wasn't armed, they saw me and walked the other way quickly. I guess I made my point. Lord knows I really don't want to drop 5 guys trying to mug me. But if I have to I have to.

marlin795 · 10-04-2011, 01:41 PM

Great thread JohnHenry btw. Good stuff.

HunterAlpha1 · 10-04-2011, 03:11 PM

i put this on facebook

Claudius Valarium · 10-04-2011, 09:27 PM

Thanks for the post JohnHenry.

Brisk44 · 10-04-2011, 09:50 PM

Excellent info John.

American Leader · 10-04-2011, 09:59 PM

Nice post JH, and I totally agree!

Connors · 10-05-2011, 05:34 PM

Awesome

CampingJosh · 10-05-2011, 11:04 PM

Definitely a good piece, but what is with that date? Written in October of 2011? I remember reading that at least 3 years ago, and I really doubt it was new then.

JohnHenry · 10-06-2011, 06:48 AM

The information has been around a long time .... only the presentation has changed .

10-04-2011, 10:22 AM	#1
JohnHenry Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Livingston county, Michigan Posts: 1,215	The Gun Is Civilation ..... ! The Gun is Civilization Written on October 4, 2011 by Maj. L. Caudill, USMC (Ret.) 4 Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that’s it. In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some. When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender. There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad “force equations.” These are the people who think that we’d be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for an armed mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger’s potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat – it has no validity when most of a mugger’s potential marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms, ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that’s the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly. Then there’s the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don’t constitute lethal force, watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip, at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier, works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that’s as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight lifter. It simply would not work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn’t both lethal and easily employable. When I carry a gun, I don’t do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I’m looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don’t carry it because I’m afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn’t limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation… And that’s why carrying a gun is a civilized act !! __________________ Freedom .... Is Never Free ! We need Term Limits .... Send the "Professional Politicians" home . -->

10-04-2011, 01:41 PM	#3
marlin795 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Calvary Chapel Bible College; Murrieta,CA Posts: 755	Re: The Gun Is Civilation ..... ! Great thread JohnHenry btw. Good stuff. __________________ Native born Californian, adopted by the Great State Of Texas! PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!

10-04-2011, 03:11 PM	#4
HunterAlpha1 Former Guest Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 1,049	Re: The Gun Is Civilation ..... ! i put this on facebook

10-04-2011, 09:27 PM	#5
Claudius Valarium V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Central Texas, AKA the Middle of Flyover Country Posts: 459	Re: The Gun Is Civilation ..... ! Thanks for the post JohnHenry. __________________ CV "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined." Patrick Henry, 1788

10-04-2011, 09:50 PM	#6
Brisk44 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,747	Re: The Gun Is Civilation ..... ! Excellent info John.

10-04-2011, 09:59 PM	#7
American Leader Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,630	Re: The Gun Is Civilation ..... ! Nice post JH, and I totally agree!

10-05-2011, 05:34 PM	#8
Connors Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 19	Re: The Gun Is Civilation ..... ! Awesome

10-05-2011, 11:04 PM	#9
CampingJosh TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 4,786	Re: The Gun Is Civilation ..... ! Definitely a good piece, but what is with that date? Written in October of 2011? I remember reading that at least 3 years ago, and I really doubt it was new then. __________________ Nothing posted on TheFirearmsForum.com constitutes legal, accounting, gunsmithing, or other professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals for real advice. Your life is lived at your own risk. Don't blame me for the dumb things you do.

10-06-2011, 06:48 AM	#10
JohnHenry Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Livingston county, Michigan Posts: 1,215	Re: The Gun Is Civilation ..... ! The information has been around a long time .... only the presentation has changed . __________________ Freedom .... Is Never Free ! We need Term Limits .... Send the "Professional Politicians" home .