'From my cold dead hands' and gun-owner apathy

Examiner.com ^ | March 15th, 2009 | John Pierce

[JohnPierce]

When these gun owners are pressed about their true dedication to the cause of gun rights, they invariably offer the infamous "… from my cold dead fingers" or "They can have them … bullets first". To these people, I would like to say, "Please stop with the clichés! If your freedom means so little to you that you are not willing to fight for it politically, then do not insult my intelligence by claiming to be willing to lay down your life for it."

[JohnPierce]

This is an excerpt from my latest column. What do you think? In my opinion, apathy is one of our greatest weakness against government intrusion into all aspects of our lives!

[sionnsar]

I rarely meet FReepers working on political campaigns.

[2ndClassCitizen]

What we suffer from is a lack of focus due to a number of causes.

To get people’s interest we need to make the participation fun and or/meaningful in some manner. Like gun rally! free beer and hot dogs, plus free rifle to one lucky attendee!

Otherwise it is really difficult to get lots of people to participate. It has to be a “happening” with good music perhaps, or attractive ladies, get the point. People are really busy, and overwhelmed in this world.

[muawiyah]

There's apathy, and there's another sort of problem that happens when you withhold firing until they overrun your position.

Depends on what you want to talk about ~ the "from my cold dead hands" comments tend to derive from references to not letting positions be overrun.

We are, of course, talking about FIREARMS and other weapons, not just killing babies in their mother's wombs.

[LearsFool]

If your freedom means so little to you that you are not willing to fight for it politically...

Fight them politically? That's already done.

Those who would today overthrow our Constitution or any part thereof declare themselves to be enemies, no matter whether foreign or domestic. To fight them politically is to grant them legitimacy.

[Roos_Girl]

For my part, and I think I’m not the only one, it’s not so much apathy as not knowing what can be done. What are the local organizations that you’re talking about? How do you find out about them? What are they doing to get the word out of how people can help? How are they empowering people so they know that they can make a difference?

[RC2]

When people start feeling that Government is back in their control, they will stop with deviance talk. As it stands now, they have no control and Congress is not responding to the people the way the people want. They have no other choice but to fight back in the only way they know. When crooked politicians run this country, with no way of getting rid of them, except waiting two years for another election, they get mad.

[Big_Harry]

I hear this type of comment also and have to wonder how these folks think that millions will stand up for violent revolution when we can’t even get a handful to participate in Constitutionally protected civil disobedience.

[Niteranger68]

Keep in mind that many gun owners and gun rights advocates are not near as articulate as you. Maybe “Molon Labe” is the best way they can communicate their solidarity with others without being philosophical about it. If the SHTF, they will be with us.

[jonascord]

Get involved in Politics?
I don't hang with crackheads, I don't dine with thieves, I don't cruise for prostitutes. Why ever should I consort with something that is worse than all three?

[mosaicwolf]

"It's too late to work within the system and too early to shoot the bastards." Claire Wolfe

[lynn4303]

I don't think it's apathy. I think it's more of us work for a living. We are just as enthusiastic for our cause, but when the liberals want to protest, thousands come out of the woodwork because they aren't doing anything else that day but watching TV and hanging out.
You know, go protest something, maybe get a free hot dog.
I'd like to grab my pitchfork and head to Washington, but I have a job that controls about 12-14 hours of my day.
Only when civil law breaks down and there are no jobs, or lifestyle to maintain, will we rally and let everyone know just how many believeing conservatives there really are

[DTogo]

That about sums it up. When the SHTF politicians from both parties will rue the day...

[VR-21]

"I don't hang with crackheads, I don't dine with thieves, I don't cruise for prostitutes. Why ever should I consort with something that is worse than all three?"

Outstanding Jonascord! I'll drink to that later today.

[AreaMan]

Get involved in Politics? I don't hang with crackheads, I don't dine with thieves, I don't cruise for prostitutes. Why ever should I consort with something that is worse than all three?

Because politicians can and WILL disarm us all.

They have already claimed large parts of our income in a variety of taxes.

They indoctrinate and condition legions of children to be docile and submissive gorvment subjects.

They open our borders to the underclass of the world seeking potential votes.

All of this thanks to Politics.

Wasn't it John Adams that said:

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.

[Tax-chick]

I work every election ... but naturally, we wouldn’t meet ;-).

[RC one]

I disagree with the excerpt. I haven’t read anymore than that. “From my cold dead fingers” isn’t a simple cliche’, it’s a simple truth with a complicated underlying message; that being, “this is the line in the sand, if you cross it, these are the consequences”. I think it’s good and important that everyone involved in this struggle understands exactly where that line is and what the potential consequences are for crossing it. It avoids dangerous confusion.

[Tax-chick]

not knowing what can be done

You just have to start: Is there a local elected official - city council, county judge, state rep. - you like? Call his or her campaign and volunteer. Is there one you really hate? Call his *opponent's* campaign and volunteer.

[jonascord]

It's my considered, and deeply depressing opinion that we have passed the point where anyone can locate an "honest" politician.

I keep hearing how, in some magical fashion, if enough honest men would just get involved, we could have "change".

From the city commissioner who feeds contracts to his brother in law, feeding at the trough, with the protection of the local District Attorney, behind a blue wall of skin headed, bloused booted thugs, all the way to the White House...

You're just drinking a different flavor of Kool-aide, if you believe we can somehow "vote" our way out of this..

[Roos_Girl]

From the article I was talking to a small group about the benefits of being active in state level organizations

This is what I was talking about when I questioned what organizations? How do we find out about them? It doesn't seem the author is talking about volunteering to help local reps.

I would assume anyone knows that the politicians would like volunteers. It appears he's not discussing that.