Scared? “July 4 terrorist attack on U.S. soil a legitimate threat, officials warn” — headlines the Washington Times.
Scared now?
Last weekend on Fox News Sunday, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mike McCaul (R‑Tx.) expressed his extreme concern that “Syrian and ISIS recruiters can use the Internet at lightning speeds to recruit followers in the United States … and then activate them to do whatever they want to do. Whether it’s military installations, law enforcement or possibly a Fourth of July event parade.”
Michael Morell, former CIA deputy director, told CBS This Morning, “I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re sitting here a week from today talking about an attack over the weekend in the United States. That’s how serious this is.”
In the last three weeks, the FBI has arrested ten U.S. citizens allegedly plotting attacks here — in solidarity with the Islamic State.
Just a week ago, I suggested we dump the Department of Homeland Security and start anew, because the DHS bureaucracy is hardly the best way to organize government to stop terrorist attacks.
Yet, no matter how well organized, government cannot possibly stop every act of violence.
While contemplating the Independence Day prospect of lone-wolf lunatics or homicidal decapitators and suicide bombers organized “at lightning speeds,” a thought came to mind: We had better depend on ourselves.
If those who will heed “the siren calls” of the Islamic State do get past Homeland Security and our alphabet quilt of security agencies, let’s do everything we can to make certain they still have to face us, armed Americans.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
3 replies on “Armed Americans”
It is not, and never has been, the job or function of government to protect us. That is merely a rationale for the government to grasp power and to steal liberty in the name of security. And it is the “go to” excuse for every despot and tyrannical oligarchy in history. “I need more and more power to keep you safe and secure “.
Until we have no freedom left.
A man imprisoned is the reductio ad absurdem end point of this direction. Move in that direction and then wait for a little while, until people are used to it. Then move a little more. This is the plan of the Fabians, which sounds more than a little terrifying, if like myself, you view power as corrupting. And yet the logic that is always used is that one group of people with liberty is dangerous so another group must have power. And that those with power will somehow not stray and will stay pure and uncorruppted. One group is somehow “better” so they must gave all the power and control. Or if they do become corrupted, that it’s still better than the danger of those who are exercising their liberty in voluntary relationships, like those who participate in capitalism.
Our job, and our responsibility is to protect ourselves. The only safe role is for government to be around to administer consequences to those that do violence, whether we managed to defend ourselves from them or not.
A government limited to that is the only one likely to stay trustworthy.
Agree and clearly stated. A thoughtful reader will also find much food for thought “between the lines.”
This is a keeper.
Amen.