Guns and Liberty Life

For years I have been told by my "more enlightened" friends that guns are evil. People that own or heaven forbid, should ever use one are either evil, suffering from a deficiency of some sort, or just don't have enough faith or optimism. Living in a civilized society makes the proficiency in firearms, unneeded and undesirable.

The news that continues to come out of New Orleans shows just how inaccurate that sentiment is:

After the storm, the neighborhood association had to act as law enforcement and emergency response unit as city services collapsed and the police force was unable to protect them...
For Harris, the first warning sign came on Tuesday, the day after the storm, when two young men hit his partner, Vinnie Pervel, over the head and drove off with his Ford van.
"A police car drove up behind me and saw it happening but he didn't do anything," said Pervel, who heads the 1,500-household neighborhood association.

We have (accurately) been saying for years that the police are under no legal obligation to protect you or anyone else. The recent melt-down in New Orleans brings to forefront the realization that legal and moral obligations not withstanding, the police were often not able to protect anyone.

Civilization is a thinly held illusion. It is an illusion made real by a complicit people who during the daily routine of their lives; ignore the the un-civil components of socitey. But major catastophies, and Katrina was a biggie, have the uncanny ability to shatter illusions. Simple things like water, a little food, a place to use the bathroom, privacy, and even shelter simply VANISH.

And in that great vanishing act, goes civilization. The story concluded:

"For five days we didn't need FEMA, the Red Cross or the National Guard," Harris said. "The neighborhood took care of itself."

Good thing. Because for five days - they didn't have anybody but themselves.

To say depend upon God and pray is fine and dandy. And the Lord does help those who cannot help themselves. But there is no need to tempt the Lord. Do not depend so much upon his mercy that you ignore his instruction. Carry appropriate arms (Luke 22:36), Provide for your family, (I Ti 5:8), and as the Lord allows, your neighbor (Luke 10:30-37). Regardless of who that neighbor is.