The Gun is Civilization by The Munchkin Wrangler
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 a [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 wouldn’t 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.
Administrator Note: It has come to our attention that the originally referenced source of this work was incorrect. The original author is The Munchkin Wrangler.
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Well said…Well said.
I will not be forced.
This is simply one of the best explanations I have ever read. Major Caudill has great clarity! It is very much worth sharing with everyone you know.
As the old saying goes “God created all men, but Sam Colt made them equal”.
Actually, Jesus knowingly and willingly died for our freedom. The Amercan soldier unknowingly dies for the elite and the bankers.
Henry,
Jesus died for your soul and mine. Just thank a vet, including the ones covered by a flag.
Well said Marine.
In any case, we will go like men. And if i go i surely will take some with me.
The time is coming fast guys.
Well said Major. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. The person who legally owns and carries a weapon is a noble defender of many. I like to think of people in three groups, The Sheep dog, The Sheep and The Wolf. Those who legally carry are the Sheep Dogs. The masses are the sheep and The Wolf is the preditor.
Like I always say; “its better to have a parachute and not need it, then to need it and not have it.
Great article – very logical and articulate.  I’ve never heard quite that angle before. I fully support (and demonstrate) your point, Major Caudill. Thank you for your service sir.
Comments….. Very Nicely Put!! Thank you, Sir. You are tribute to this Great Nation of ours. Have you checked into the articles on Neithercorp. ? I think you would enjoy and agree with everything on that site – esp. the articles. Gio is also very articulate and a patriot!
Excellent article, I plan to pass this around.
Thank you sir.
Tom
You need to read your Bible.
Jesus died for our sins.
Henry, the soldier fought and died for your right to worship the Man who died for you………….
* God Bless the 3rd Infantry Division *
Amen Paul and Tom.
God bless the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives or devoted their service, so that I can enjoy the freedoms still available in this country. I can worship the Most High. I can raise an American Flag and be proud of our heritage. I can freely express my “discontent” (great degree of restraint with that word…) with our current “administration” without fear of reprisal. I can arm myself to defend against the lawless or tyranny. I can choose where I want to travel, my own political opinion, my own religious opinion, where I want to live, spend my income, etc. All of these rights endowed by my creator and ensured by our great men and women in our military, I do not take lightly. I thank each of you sincerely for your sacrifice; securing the freedom with which I still live; and would willingly join you to defend.
Paul
Not true.
Christians have worshipped for centuries under ban.
You also need to brush up on your history.Â
Â
I AM NEVER WITHOUT A WEAPON ON MY PERSON. I REFUSE TO DIE AT THE HANDS OF SOMEONE ELSE – AND WILL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER TO PREVENT THE NEEDLESS DEATH OF ANYONE ELSE. CARRY A GUN… CHECKS AND BALANCES PEOPLE.
Henry,
You are correct, Jesus certainly died for our sins.. Our brave died for our freedom so we can worship our Lord without persecution. You are a little misguided when you put bankers and the elite in your response! I will guarantee you that if were not for the brave soldiers who died for our freedom… you, my friend would probably speaking German and if found posting such a comment as you just did… would be hunted down and eliminated!
This is all absract reasoning,I already know that I shall never be disarmed and that I will always maintain possession of the tools that keep me from becoming enslaved,tyrannized or a victim of genocide by my government (genocide is far more likely given the results of the 20th century).
It is the vet, not the preacher, who has given us the freeedom of religion. It is the vet, not the reporter, who has given us freeedom of the press. It is the vet, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the vet, not the community organizer, who has given us the freedom to assemble. It is the vet, not the lawyer, who has given us fair trial.  And it “will be” the vet, not the constitution, that will continue to give us the right to bear arms.Â
Henry, you are a little ankle biter.
logical argument until the tear-jerking statement that american soldiers die for my freedom. it’s my opinion that in the secret labyrinth within the innards of factual history american soldiers have always died for the megawealthy american plutocrats.
Well said, his words are wise and true….
(But Iagree eith Henry).
Dull Tool
You have been brainwashed to believe all of those things.
Someday, someone is going to come to your house and take all those ‘arms’ that you had the ‘right to bear’.
It will not be the preacher. It will not be a member of the press, nor a community organizer. It will not be a lawyer. It will be an American soldier who will just be doing his duty in the name of “FREEDOM”, and you know what? You will hand over those weapons with nary a whimper, because you are a coward at heart.
Henry,
I am in the military.  Mustang 29 years. I will be deploying soon and I am proud to be the weapons officer in my unit.
LCDR (USN)
You carrying a gun does not remove force from the equation, in fact it could be said that it puts force on your side of the equation.
I have to agree with Henry,Clusterfox, and Smedley Butler. The soldier does not lack courage nor does he lack conviction. That being said, it does not always go without saying that he is the best informed. “You take a man’s money, you ride for the brand” said Sam Elliot’s character in the movie Conagher. So it goes today. Have there been times in history where the soldier has fought for freedom? Yes, but more recent history shows this is not the case very often. Google Smedley Butler.
Bravo, Major.
I couldn’t have expressed it better, myself.
🙂
Liberty & Justice,
sj
Comments…..Just one thing.  You live in a place and a society where you feel a need to have a gun. OK. I don’t.  It is a sorry and sick reality. Please just remember that major changes in society, education , happiness and well being , can develope trust in eachother.   We can live well without carrying weapons. Why do we have so many predators?  I don’t think guns will solve the problems.  They might make you feel more safe for the moment, but sooner or later we have to confront the real issues. If we don’t tackle the underlying issues, there will always bi more and more muggers to shoot.  Is that what we want? Â
Having a weapon is the only reason that human beings still exist. Without the club, the spear or the bow and arrow we would have never survived with all the stronger predators around nor been able to feed ourselves very well. We would have died out a million years ago. Having the best weapon available is a deeply rooted instinct in the male of the species especially.
Men who wish to be unarmed just abdicate their protection to someone else and are acting counter to a basic instinct and have a lot more faith in those other people than I do.
Comments…..I have had the pleasure to meet many armed Americans. They are polite until we are both drunk and then they warn me that they are armed. I then explain that I am not armed due to the laws of Canada. They then remove their weapons and we proceed to solve the worlds problems. It never fails because we’re the best friends you yanks have ever had
Dull Tool
Assuming you are telling the truth (this being the internet where one can be anybody they want), you are being deployed for what? For MYÂ freedom? No, you are being deployed to protect that top 5% who own everyone on this planet.
As it is, you are being duped today, as I was duped decades ago.Â
Nice article, thanks. Â However, the reason that we have the right to bear arms was NOT originally place in the amendments to protect any of us from armed robbery, rape, murder or arbitrary crime, it was to allow us to protect ourselves from our own government. I’m a left leaning lover of the US Constitution and 15 years ago I felt we should get all of our guns, throw them in a pile and set them on fire. Â Dubya Bush’s administration showed me the light. Â I awakened to the truth which was what I stated above. Â Arm yourself and learn how to use your weapon. Â It is the ONE freedom not yet taken from us that keeps these monsters and thieves at bay. Â It is proven the world over. Â While humanity does possess the intellectual tools to eventually rise above this sort of crude and violent remedy, it has very little chance of happening in our lifetimes. Â At least, not until we can rid our planet of these monsters that insist that “war” is a solution to ANYTHING.
I noticed lots of soldiers commenting… thank you for your service. Â But please come to terms with the fact that your service had very little if anything to do with protecting “our” freedoms, except the freedom to murder, rape, pillage and control the natural resources of another country’s assets that “our” government deemed necessary for “national security.” Â All wars are scams. Â All of them, but especially everyone this country has ever fought. Â I am just the messenger. Â But the truth is in my message. Â Peace on you all.
This same logic applies to small and relatively weak nations like Iran and North Korea.  Once North Korea acquired nuclear weapons the United States immediatelystopped bullying that country and once Iran acquires nuclear weapons the US and Israel will be forced to stop bullying and threatening that nation. In my opinion, the sooner this happens the better chance there is for peace in the Middle East and other parts of the world.
What a load of rubbish! Â This only applies if the weaker party is the only one with a gun.
How we forget that the gun is what enabled this nation to be and to exist until this day. Sad but true.
Plumbob: The more nations have nukes, the more likely someone will use them. Ahmedinejad has told the world that he will blow Israel off the map. Once Iran acquires nukes, do you think he won’t make good on that promise? Sorry, Israel is not the bully in this case.
Major,
Very well said sir. I am working on my concealers permit for this very reason. I can not put it into better words. Another very good article I read on firearm ownership, was that of a town called Kennesaw, GA. Please consider reading this short article and let me know what you think sir. Semper Fi.
V/R
AE3 USN
You guys all need to smoke a joint and watch Zardoz, Sean Connery’s greatest perfomance.
Penis is evil! The Penis shoots Seeds, and makes new Life to poison the Earth with a plague of men, as once it was. But the Gun shoots Death and purifies the Earth of the filth of Brutals. Go forth, and kill! Zardoz has spoken.
Yes, but there’s a District Attorney just waiting for the chance to imprison you. You might think that the gun will make you safe, and like a placebo the psychological benefit might be there, but you will face legal consequences. Look at the Chile earthquake for examples. Do you want to be hauled off to jail as the marauders loot your home? Trust me, the police would just as much grab you as the perp; if anything you being law-abiding make a target less likely to resist arrest and cause problems, a big issue in an age of dominance by gangs.
Now using mace  might not be bad physically. Yes, you don’t have lethal force, and will give up the edge to someone with a gun, but it offers a great alternative. The most you can expect to receive–if indeed the perp is unarmed–is a misdemeanor in most places. Yes, I guess you could get hauled off, but if they’re good circumstances (dark, multiple intruders) and you have a clean record, you’ll probably get a summons instead–like me.
Spray first if you are outnumbered! (Best of all get lights, fence, dog, and try and deter the intrusion beforehand by those physical methods.) Now don’t shoot first with a gun because you could be looking at 10-20 years. I’d say first strike is critical in the dark, so the gun’s firepower may not be as effective as it can’t be seen, or the perps will ignore you. Mace the first, GOOD, then you can 1-on-1 with number two, who’ll likely be discouraged by the incapacitation of the first. If it’s just drunk kids, you’ll be happy you didn’t cap them. More than three and they’re coming for you? Better have the Gel compound.
Don’t talk to the cops if this happens! They–or more like the anti-self-defense DA–will use what you say against you. People will sympathize but let’s face it, the police want a monopoly on force. and as much as people will say they’re on your side, it’ll be you in court, fined, and sued! It isn’t about justice. The authorities don’t want people asserting their right to self-defense, even if that means the criminals run wild. They want you to be sheople. Be careful!
Ten-hut! Well said Sir! Semper Fi.                      Comments…..
guns are a good thing but citing religion is a bad idea there mister ex marine. guns are not ‘civilization’ but an indicator that mankind is doomed to die on this fucked up ball we live on because people won’t let their HIGHER REASONING SKILLS work over their primitive and fucked animal instincts to kill each other.
so yeah, guns as nice as they are, are a CRUTCH FOR MENTALLY IMPAIRED ASSHOLES who can’t see a way to do it without brute force overwhelming force. A gun is a metaphor for NUCLEAR WEAPONS, and what that kind of force implies; “if you don’t act nice, I’ll kill ALL OF US WITH MY WEAPON, howz zat??” thinking.
if mankind is going to make it, it has to stop the senseless, ignorant, violent use of gratuitous and stupid and inane FORCE, and start to USE REASON over FORCE.
Comments…..That essay was written by Marko Kloos a German immigrant who has a blog called The Munchkin wrangler.He hates it when folks use his work wiyhout giving him credit…oh yea he also hates it when the word gay is replaced by the word single in the fourth paragraph.
Not the original Henry on this thread but I might as well be him. What he says is truth and what I believe.
Let’s just look at what happened after Katrina. Soldiers with weapons at the ready, going house to house in violation of the posse comitatus law. Didn’t see the soldiers disobey this unconstitutional order since they probably are as ignorant (I mean that in the gentlest way) about our rights as 90% of Americans are. The difference is that they are “sworn” to uphold and defend that which they know nothing about. Same goes for our police forces (and I mean that just the way it sounds—“forces”).
Shogunole, Ahmedinejad NEVER said that about Israel. More jewish propaganda and apparently it’s working. Wake up and do a search. The TRUTH really is out there.
I thought I had seen this before. I don’t know who the author is, but if it’s not the Major it should be stated as such. I would not want anyone claiming something I wrote, but then again I never wrote anything that good. Â
Comments….. I had a misspent youth you might say. Hanging around the dredges of society, being one of the many recreational pharmacists out there.  I never felt the need to have a gun for my well being and never have. I’ve been in several situations where maybe it would have been remedied faster if I had had one but taking the first opportunity to turn the tables on the situations worked just as well, IMO.  Guns do allow a bad situation to maximize to it’s worst degree. If you aren’t prepared to neutralize that situation with the gun, you have no business owning a gun.  If you hesitate doing what you are supposed to do with that gun there is a good chance of it becoming YOU who gets neutralized by your very own weapon. You’ll have to live with the ramifications of killing another human being as well.Â
It was not written by a US Marine it was written by Marko Kloos a writer who has a blog called the munchkin wrangler. This blog site the munchkin wrangler. Essay on his site why the gun is civilization. the munchkin wrangler.
Ted Nugent used the same essay and attribution in his book and ended up having to pay the for the rights.(a small sum about $400 I think)
The rights are free for non-commercial use as long as you use proper attribution.
To survive, we evolve …
I believe the intention of the 2nd amendment’s “right to bear arms” was to enable citizens to overthrow an unjust government by allowing access to the most advanced level of force available at that time (It does not say the right to bear “gunsâ€). To have the same ability today, “the people” would need access to jet fighters, tanks, bombers and aircraft carriers. Only the very wealthy, through lobbying, have a say in how these modern weapons are used (to protect their investments). These days, if a group of citizens assembled to attempt to use firearms to overthrow a corrupt government, they would all end up shot or in jail. The ones who would shoot or arrest them are the same poor ignorant uniformed saps who will sacrifice their lives to protect the overseas investments of the wealthiest 1% of society.
For the Canadians who think they can’t own firearms:Â Any Canadian without a criminal conviction related to violence can write the firearms safety test and buy an $80 Restricted Firearms Possession & Acquisition License which allows the purchase of almost any class of firearm they want including military type rifles (except full automatic).
In this civilized society, I believe my education has helped me much more than my firearms ever will. Knowledge and education are what allow a society to enjoy safe and high living standards.
Nevertheless, I will continue to do what I can to preserve my ability (privilege or right) to posses firearms although I’m not convinced that my firearms keep me any safer than someone without them.
Naughty, naughty – major – you ought to acknowledge the author of the article!
http://munchkinwrangler.wordpress.com/2007/03/23/why-the-gun-is-civilization/
Any of you that speak cheap of the military person’s character for serving have that right. Even on this holiday. Write a letter to your Congress or POTUS and voice your educated feelings… Most on this blog understand what is really going on. What are you doing about it? Have you left your family to deploy over there? Watched your friend die for you and serving for his country? Flew off of an aircraft carrier with 1000 pound bombs on your aircraft’s wings to keep the ocean free? Sailed off the coast to keep illegals out? Flew supplies over seas to feed people in a foreign country? Served on a submarine at 700 feet under? Go camping for a year and half then think about it….
Well said Tom. I sincerely hope, that on this holiday weekend,  those who are critical of the brave men and women who serve in our country’s military will take a break from their posts.
I understand the manipulations of the “elite” in today’s world. Still, if you don’t acknowledge the role of our military in preserving our freedom, then you are clinging so closely to one single bit of “truth”, that you are like a horse with blinders; missing all that happens along the road beside you.
On this Memorial Day weekend, as well as always, I give a sincere heart-felt thanks, to all military men and women, for the freedom that I enjoy today. God Bless you all. Godspeed.
Our Military is like our Bible. Most know nothing about it and want to take it out of context. God Bless all who have served God and Country.
Actually, human beings have different ways of dealing with one another. Also, the idea of an “equal footing” works both ways.
Possessing a gun is not a right, its a responsibility to care for oneself and contribute to the care of those around them.Â
For the chest beating, back slapping military guys commenting here, we need guns because you have all failed to do your job, the one you took an oath for. You may have seen buddies die in an Afghani poppy field but ive seen them die on the streets of America, killed by others who took an oath to protect those very same people.
Shame on the US military, shame on those of you who volunteered to serve and have yet to fulfill your oaths, shame.
Many of you gun owners are speaking about your Christian heritage and beleifs. What happened to Thou Shalt not Kill ?
I agree that “Thou shalt not kill†(as in murder). I do not believe that either the old or new testament prohibits self-defense or the defense of those around us or the defense of our country.  Theologians J. P. Moreland and Norman Geisler say that “to permit murder when one could have prevented it is morally wrong. To allow a rape when one could have hindered it is an evil. To watch an act of cruelty to children without trying to intervene is morally inexcusable. In brief, not resisting evil is an evil of omission, and an evil of omission can be just as evil as an evil of commission. Any man who refuses to protect his wife and children against a violent intruder fails them morally.”  David Warner – if you had a gun would you actually watch an armed intruder shoot your wife or other loved one? There are more individual interpretations of the bible than you can probably count. I have no conflict between belief in God and gun ownership.   When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. Just my humble opinion.
As much as you might think you’ll use a gun, you need to understand the consequences and law beforehand.
First, in some states, the use of a firearm is prohibited unless you’re life is danger. In other words, it may not be justifiable if you use a firearm to prevent intrusion or even burglary. In Indiana, you have to ask trespassers to leave before exercising any force. Not exactly a tactical situation that favors you–the individual homeowners–against a pack of trespassers.
Now if you legally own a firearm and brandish it, you may have broken the law. Now you may not think that’ll get you arrested, you might be wrong. First, there might be more of them than of you which could give them more testimonial weight. For instance,: “we were on our way back from bible school, and my friend took a shortcut behind the guy’s house. Next thing you know the guy was running at us with a gun!”
As much as it might be dark, or the same people might have trespassed before, you can’t use those issues as a defense. In the law, the act is isolated from its circumstances unless you have a rock solid self-defense or state law to back you. Know them.
If you have a problem with intruders, the far better solution is more lighting and a fence, plus maybe a dog. Infrared (IR) network cameras have come down in price–with audio, this could be key to your defense that you told them to leave, if that’s an obligation. (Then again, Â if they’re really ready to use force against you, trying to convince them to leave could get you killed if they are armed.)
Whether or not you feel threatened, you need to give them a chance to get away, regardless of the law in your state. The principle is that people should die from trespassing (or even be maced, as is the law here.) The alternative is likely jail, which could get your family victimized while you are locked up, not to mention the legal costs.
A solution I’m looking at is high intensity strobe lights, as we live next to some college fraternities who’ve been trespassing a lot.
Truthee – that’s why I live in Texas; and I do read the Texas laws on firearms. The Texas Castle Doctrine, September 1, 2010 spells it out. If someone breaks into my house or truck, they don’t get maced, they get dead. Nor can I be sued in civilian court for having defended myself in such a manner.
Correction – the date of the Texas Castle Doctrine was 2007. Too used to writing the current date…
Hey Truthee
FYI, Not so in Florida. If you commit crimes against a armed person in Florida, chances are you will take a dirt nap.
The correct author of the above article is:
October 4, 2011 by Maj. L. Caudill, USMC (Ret.)