Stay Strapped or Get Clapped

The Second Amendment enthusiast is a Libertarian typecast. We all know that guy who shreds brass at the range every chance he gets. You may spot him at PorcFest, with an AR-15 slung around the neck, a Glock at the hip, and a snub-nosed braced to the ankle for good measure… on a stroll to the tent selling beeswax candles.

Libertarians recognize that every person has a right to self-defense, through any instrumentality, so it makes sense that many of us are fond of the responsible possession and use of firearms. Some in our circles delight in this responsibility, and through the hobbies of marksmanship and collecting, have developed considerable expertise handling “freedom sticks.”

Some in our wider, modern society lag behind this realization. New York recognizes firearm ownership only for the “defense and protection of the state.” (Article XII, NYS Constitution) Certain places are declared “gun free zones,” which means that therein the citizen loses his right to defend his own life with the instrumentality most effective for that purpose. More so, he may not even bring a firearm near to these areas, usually nowhere within 500 feet. Yet certain past and current governmental employees (often those who wear costumes bearing insignia) are allowed to open-carry in gun-free zones, even when off-duty. The message is clear to anyone: some people’s lives are valuable enough to deserve defense, whilst everyone else must rely on the good grace of would-be criminals, were someone with bad intentions to come armed to these zones.

This, of course, jars with the civic notion of the citizenry as stakeholders in the republic. Ours is supposed to be a government “of the people, for the people, by the people” as inscribed on the Lincoln Memorial. Even New York State Penal Code reminds us in its preamble that it is enacted by “The People of the State of New York,” and every criminal case is captioned as “The People of the State of New York v. Defendant John Doe.” This means that the penal provisions can theoretically be enforced by private citizens no differently than by our designated agents in the form of police and troopers. In general, I do not and would not recommend that private citizens attempt to apprehend criminals (“self help is fraught with peril,” as is said in law), but there is no denying that a citizen has that right under our law. He just has a dissuasive amount of personal liability for any mishaps.

The corollary of any right is its attendant responsibility, which in the case of firearms means regular practice by the marksman and maintenance of the devices. Should an emergency arise, you are only as good as your muscular memory, and at that dire time you want no doubt creeping in about whether your device has been properly maintained.

We may never be that guy (and we all know him!) with the stockpile in some undisclosed location. But with a fair amount of practice, we can ensure that any home invader is induced to re-evaluate his life choices.