The historian Michael Bellesiles tried to usher in the new millennium by claiming that guns were scarce in colonial America and even beyond. The problem was, it was quite easy to show that his research was flawed and his conclusions nonsensical. It wasn’t the first time that a historian with an agenda was found out, disgraced, and stripped of his prizes and his job. I have timed it: It takes just about thirty-seven seconds on a limited research tool—the Internet—to find out that a non-warrior culture in New England defined gun-control by requiring households to… OWN GUNS!
If the USA has a real, bonafide, ubiquitous tradition, it is in the ownership and use of guns. Since it is often the aim of government to limit or reverse that tradition, the truly imaginative conservative should consider its defense. BUY THE ONE YOU LOVE A GUN FOR CHRISTMAS! I even have a suggestion.
Ruger is an American company, and makes a great line of guns for sport and self-defense. My wife and I recently purchased a Ruger SR9c 9mm pistol, which is small enough, powerful enough, and aesthetically pleasing enough to satisfy the person you love the most.
Merry Christmas!
The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politics—we approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now.
We hope you will join us in The Imaginative Conservative community. The Imaginative Conservative is an online journal for those who seek the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. We address culture, liberal learning, politics, political economy, literature, the arts and the American Republic in the tradition of Russell Kirk, T.S. Eliot, Edmund Burke, Irving Babbitt, Wilhelm Roepke, Robert Nisbet, Richard Weaver, M.E. Bradford, Eric Voegelin, Christopher Dawson, Paul Elmer More, and other leaders of Imaginative Conservatism. Some conservatives may look at the state of Western culture and the American Republic and see a huge dark cloud which seems ready to unleash a storm that may well wash away what we most treasure of our inherited ways. Others focus on the silver lining which may be found in the next generation of traditional conservatives who have been inspired by Dr. Kirk and his like. We hope that The Imaginative Conservative answers T.S. Eliot’s call to “redeem the time, redeem the dream.” The Imaginative Conservative offers to our families, our communities, and the Republic, a conservatism of hope, grace, charity, gratitude, and prayer.
The featured image is courtesy of Pixabay. It has been brightened for clarity.
I think that most American chiefs of police will agree with John.
And yes, the notion of an American colonist refusing to own a gun is quite amusing; and the Minutemen rushing out of doors armed with tofu; and Dan'l Boone talking the bear out of the tree; and all those Pennsylvania and Kentucky gunsmiths only making 'collectors' long-rifles that do not fire; Paul Revere riding from house to house asking if anybody has a .22; and those fellows at Lexington and Concord attacking with their Swiss Army knives ("Ebenezer, which of these gadgets kills a redcoat?" "Zeke, that one opens cans and the one next to it defrags your hard-drive.."
I suggest Boston T. Party's, "Gun Bible". America needs citizens that are riflemen, that is only way you can fight terrorism and repel a foreign invasion.
The US could perfect the Swiss, citizens militia model and really cut our massive military budget. We only need a Navy and Marines, citizens can be the army.
Rifle training, subsidized rifles and ammunition for all able body Americans. Let's see the neocons start a preemptive war with no standing army.
John, such a beautiful idea for a Christmas gift. Sort of 'the gift that keeps on giving.' For your close readers, and I count myself among that cabal, I would suggest a .22 Beretta loaded with hollow point stingers which gives you seven quick shots nasty enough to stop any attacker. The beauty of the pistol is that it's so light you can carry it 'COMFORTABLY' in your pocket, to the mall, school, or church, places where, in our culture, the violence occurs.
Actually, the last I knew, IACP was very anti-gun. They don't, however, speak for the majority of LEOs.
Steve,
Why don't you expand this and make it a post? "The Unarmed American Revolution?"