As a prelude to my comments, please check out the following -
http://www.answers.com/topic/minutemen
Minutemen, in the American Revolution, colonial militiamen or armed citizens who agreed to turn out for service at a minute's notice. The term minutemen is used especially for the men who were enrolled (1774) for such service by the Massachusetts provincial congress. These were “the embattled farmers” who fought against the British at Lexington and Concord.
and ............
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minutemen_(militia)#Equipment.2C_training.2C_and_tactics
The rifled musket used by most minutemen was also well suited to this role. The rifling (grooves inside the barrel) gave it a much greater range than the smoothbore musket, although it took much longer to load. Because of the lower rate of fire, rifles were not used by regular infantry but were preferred for hunting. When performing as skirmishers, the minutemen could fire and fall back behind cover or other troops before the British could get into range. The increased range and accuracy of the rifle, along with a lifetime of hunting to develop marksmanship, earned minutemen sharpshooters a deadly reputation.
So what? Well, let me make a few points here
1. During those times leading up to and including the years of the Revolutionary War, the new America had a standing army and militia. They were trained in war and weapons. They were uniformed and armed in the weaponry of that day. Our enemies of that time were also well armed, with mostly the same weapons, i.e. muskets and pistols of the black powder and ball variety.
2. The Minutemen of that day were primarily non-military "citizens" who armed themselves, had no uniforms, little (if any) formal training, and would be ready in a "minute" should a threat arise. They worked their land and businesses, but would drop what they were doing and respond to meet any threat... armed and ready!
To me, the Minutemen philosophy should never have been lost in the American concept of a citizen's patriotic duty to our country, our neighborhoods, and our personal (and family) protection. As citizens, it is MY belief that we have a duty and responsibility to "be ready" to defend ourselves at any time.
This also means that we are to be armed, and see to our own practice in preparation for any confrontation with our enemies, foreign or domestic.
And what about those "arms"? In the day of the Minutemen, many were armed with less military style weapons, such as small caliber hunting (or squirrel) rifles, on up to rifles that would match or exceed those of their enemies.
I have met a few "shooters", some were Trap and Skeet shooters, or muzzle loader shooters, who didn't believe any "sportsman" needed an AR-15, AK-style semiautomatic, of other so-called "assault rifle". They weren't "sporting" and had no place in the legitimate shooting culture of true "sportsmen".
Hogwash!
Let me remind some of this - Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, states, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Where in the heck does it mention "sporting" or "hunting"? "...necessary to the security of a free state....", NOT free hunting privledges! They were talking about a free people being able and ready to defend themselves!
If we, as a free people, find ourselves being threatened by our enemies, on our home soil, do we think they will be armed with shotguns and muzzle loaders? Will they have .22's for squirrels? Will they show themselves when we call out, "Pull"?
The bad guys, be they local punks bent on night-time intrusion and rape, or a terrorist coming to a neighborhood near you to kill the masses, ... waiting for the Police or military to take care of you would likely be a deadly mistake.
For one thing, during a national emergency, even a natural disaster type, the emergency services may likely be too busy for a call for help by one person or family. If there should be an all-out assault on a community, you can bet the Police will be plenty busy, and too out-gunned, to come to the aid of individuals.
In that case, just what WILL those bad-guys be carrying? In my current profession, we refer to the need for force to be met with equal force, plus one. If our threat comes with an AK-47, what would you prefer to have? I'm betting on at least an AR-15, and with more ammo than the bad guy? And you better have the know-how to use it effectively!
To those "sportsmen" and other anti-gun citizens, you need to be thinking about the real world threats and make decisions for you and your family that will offer at least some measure of safety. But for me, DO NOT decide for me that I don't have any reason to own what ever gun I can legally purchase today! And if I show up at the local public range with an AR-15, or the like, and you don't like it ... TUFF SHIT! I'm practicing to save my family' lives!
In fact, it is MY view that America needs to require every household (legal to do so), be armed and self-trained for their weapons, so they do not burden an understaffed and over-worked law enforcement community when the shit really hits the fan! Law Enforcement will have plenty to do, and they will NOT have time for individual calls for help, or at least not without some critical delays. By the way... the bad-guys won't wait on'em!
Be armed. Be ready.
Dan
