Quote:
Originally posted by Confused
I've been following your contributions to this topic and value your input. You are very well informed. I'm sure that if you had been around during the founding your name quite possibly would be on the constitution also.
I own and believe in the individual right to own guns. I also have trouble believing the individual needs anything larger than rifles and shotguns, but if it ever comes to that dreadfull time that it becomes neccessary for the overthrow then we have to be on equal footing with the military as they will in all likelihood be under the control of the goverment.
Just food for thought.
Chas
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thanks for the kind words.
the USA military is substantially less likely to be on the side of the government than the militaries of other countries (read banana republics) for a few reasons:
1) the bulk of the military is volunteer based, they are not conscripts and their training includes individual thoughts and actions - so they are less likely to follow blindly like sheep and obey an order to fire on their fellow citizens.
2) the military is a very small percentage of the population as a whole and there are a whole lot more of us (between 70 and 80 million armed) than there are of them. Couple in the fact that the guards and militias are guys like you and me and the military is very outnumbered. while comparably we are under armed as compared to them, its like the old story: give 200 million people a rock and they will overwhelm a smaller force.
3) the military has very little "power" as all of their highest ranking officers are vetted by Congress and true whackos are less likely to make into true positions of power and the final control is in the hands of civilians.
4) the military has a tradition of being under the "control" of civilian authorities since the beginning of this nation.