NO BACKING DOWN: Marketing Gun Ownership and Self-Defense as a Virtue
Thank you for your comments on the first part of this series. In part 1 I said we are in a cultural conflict where freedom is under attack on many fronts. I chose to talk about self-defense. Self-defense is more than a right we reluctantly tolerate. Self-defense is actually a virtue we want to support. In this culture war, people who love liberty should advocate for a better culture rather than sit passively and react defensively. What would we do if we really valued self-sufficiency and self-defense?
— In part 1 I said that gun shops and firing ranges should have voter registration forms on their counters. Those same shops should offer an instant discount if you’re registered to vote.
— A private school would boast about how many of its teachers have carry permits.
— If self-defense was a virtue, then a private school would establish self-defense proficiency as a required element in the school curriculum.
— If self-defense was a virtue, then schools would hold pep rallies for their wrestling, judo, MMA, knife fighting and combat handgun teams.
— If self-defense was a virtue, then only the society for creative anachronism would continue to hold events shooting at stationary targets.
What would local politicians do tomorrow if they really valued self-sufficiency and self-defense?
— Politicians in anti-gun states already established “local preemption” laws so cities could enact their own gun prohibitions. Those laws means local jurisdictions could also promote firearms ownership. They could establish their own reciprocity with other states. Pro-gun counties could issue non-resident licenses to people from anti-gun cities.
— Since private gun ownership reduces crime, politicians should cut personal sales taxes and property taxes on guns, gun safes, and ammunition.
— Politicians supporting self-defense would register unarmed men and women…since those adults are many times more dangerous than concealed carry holders.
— Politicians supporting self-defense would tax disarmed persons as a threat to public safety.
— Retail shops would not pay property taxes on the part of their store selling self-defense tools.
That is a small start on one front of the culture war. I’ll be back with more examples in the next two posts. Let me leave you with this question in the mean time. What would you do if self-defense was a virtue?
Thank you again for your suggestions.