Posted on 03/08/2005 11:38:00 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
Scotland has long been thought of as a wild land, peopled by independent-minded warriors, herdsmen and farmers. For centuries, its remoteness has fostered the spirit of self-sufficiency and independence that brooked little interference from the outside world.
Scots fought many wars to safeguard their freedom. Who can forget Mel Gibsons William Wallace shouting out the word "freedom" as he was being tortured to death in the closing scene of the movie, "Braveheart"?
Modern Scots, however, are seeing that spirit of freedom legislated away in favor of more state control of their lives.
Many Americans are aware of the strict gun-control laws in the United Kingdom, of which Scotland is a part. Its nearly impossible for the average U.K. citizen to own a firearm, much less carry it for self-defense.
A couple of indicators seem to show the ban is doing its job but having unforeseen effects: violent home invasions are increasing because felons know the odds of encountering an armed homeowner are nil; and the number of knife murders are rising.
That last one is of particular concern to Scotlands first minister, Jack McConnell. Hes trying to get legislation passed that would slap restrictions on knives and swords.
According to The Scotsman online newspaper, McConnells proposal would license shops selling non-household knives, ban the sale of swords, make it illegal to carry a knife or sword and double the sentence for carrying a knife to four years. Proponents of the measures point out that carrying a sgian dubh, a small knife tucked into the top of a stocking as part of traditional garb, would be exempt from the ban. Carrying most other knives, however, would be illegal.
Although its tempting to dismiss the proposal as a goofy response to a serious problem violence it must be taken seriously by defenders of an individuals right to self-defense. Thomas Jefferson summed up that right in the Declaration of Independence: that men (and women) are born with "certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Implicit in those rights is the right to defend oneself from outside attack by other people or the government. It is that natural right of all men that McConnells idea attacks.
The Scotsman quoted McConnell as saying, "The sale of swords in Scotland today is fundamentally wrong. There can be no reason for people buying swords off the street for use or to have in their homes."
Sound familiar? Its nearly word for word the same argument used in this country by those who would ban the sale and possession of firearms.
Will these people ever learn that the way to address violent crime is by taking and keeping felons off the street, not simply restricting the tools of their trade?
The United Kingdoms experience with gun control shows that felons will simply change weapons when their favorite is outlawed. We wouldnt be surprised to learn, should McConnells proposal become law, that Scottish thugs were carrying clubs and brass knuckles. What then?
Scots are Brits, what they are not is English (or Welsh or Irish for that matter).
It's used to prevent getting to close-quarters combat... and it's very effective.
Cool. But you probably aren't getting either one of them on a commercial flight... ;-)
Isn't that what fosterd the introduction of the longbow in the middle ages?
"If it's not Scottish, it's CRAP!
Michael Palin. And I didn't have to look it up. :)"
"Not the archers. My scouts tell me their archers are miles away and no threat to us. Arrows cost money. Use up the Irish. Their dead cost nothing." ~ Longshanks in Braveheart
Maybe you did have to look it up... ;^)
Sorry, I guess I was just being facetious with respect to some personal experiences but you have eloquently stated what I often hear from some friends of Celtic descent.
That is until "I told you. It's MY island"......
Scots ping! sorry this took so long, I was in California getting to know mt girlfriend's family.
The best blood that Scotland had to offer is now living on in the descendants of those that populated the ridges and valleys of the Appalachians.
When they cleared out the Highland "troublemakers" they left only the knee-benders and @ss-kissers.
There was once a time when I dearly desired to visit Ulster, the highlands of Scotland and Wales just to see the lands of my roots.
Not now.
*My* roots grow up through centuries of wiry, wary, clannish hillbilly kin buried here, VA, WV and TN.
The glory of the "lands of my ancestors" exists only in ancient myths.
[and swords...oh, aye, I got me a mickle amount of swords and daggers, mind ye]....;)
I would so dearly love to hear you utter the "knee benders and @ss kissers" comment in a Glasgow pub
And other pointy things too, its been rumored...
Great fun would ensue no doubt. Unfortunantely, it has the sting of truth to it.
Only if watching someone being ripped apart with broken beer glasses is your idea of fun
Gee....I'm a 5' 3" 114 pound woman.
Do you think it would take a lot of "guts" for a barful of Scots men to kick my ass?
Would there be a lot of pride passed around when they were done?
Would the majority of them even be aware of the clan politics and double-dealings of 2 hundred years ago?
They've bowed to socialism, they've lost their independence [again], they've lost their guns and now they're about to lose their swords.
The fact that a mob of drunken men could easily beat me up has absolutely no bearing on how easily they've let the yoke of cultural slavery be slipped over their necks...again.
Maybe they'll re-outlaw the pipes and the plaids somehwere down the road. [nah...they've too much tourist appeal for that to happen]
In my state, they've been aggressively and relentlessly trying to take away the guns of the Scots/Irish/Welsh hillbillies for over 40 years but we've still got 'em.
We have no "sword laws" at all beyond generalized weaponry laws dictating that we not kill anybody with one.
Since this began with a "cyber p*ssing contest", I guess I should reciprocate by inviting you to make some inflammatory comment in any average hillbilly honky-tonk.
And just to fair, there are probably a lot of ballsy Scots left in Scotland.
Why they're doing nothing to put a stop to tyrannical acts against them is beyond me.
Personally, I want to know how the -Highland & Island- people feel about all this.
Touché.....;))
Better yet...why couldn't they just use a gun?
[how 'til beer is only served in non-lethal soft aluminum cans and paper cups?]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.