People arguing for bans of guns are arguing for older forms of weapons

 A story out of South Africa points to the value of armed militia in stopping crimes. Olivia Murray has the story at the American Thinker today entitled Armed citizens restore the rule of law in South Africa after an armed robbery and murder. In general, a "militia" is any group of armed citizens under the control of officers selected by them, that act in coordination to achieve a mission. A posse could be a militia, in this case under the direction of a sheriff.

According to a local source, the police responded, but fled the scene when they came under fire, at which point a “community crime watch group” known as Hoedspruit Farmwatch stepped in, setting up makeshift barricades with boulders. The armed robbers then shot at the farmers, who returned fire in a clash that lasted around 20 minutes. After all was said and done, the members of HF were unhurt, while four of the gang members were dead and another three were injured...

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Few things bring me as much joy as when I read stories in which harsh justice rains down on those who hurt the innocent, so this was certainly a “feel-good” story for someone like myself, but it’s also a good reminder of what the “militia” is, and why our very lives depend on its sustenance. These armed farmers, private citizens with personal weapons, are the militia, despite all the screaming and shouting to the contrary—the militia is neither the National Guard, nor is it a state police force, nor any other government corps.

George Mason, an anti-Federalist, purportedly said, “I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.”

Gentle readers should read the entire post and realize that we cannot delegate our responsibility to defend our lives onto others, either the police or the National Guard. We are our own first responders, that is the painful truth since man first walked the planet. When people call for bans on guns, or gun confiscation, what they are really arguing for is older forms of weapons such as knives, swords, spears, or bows and arrows. Of these, only the arrow is a standoff weapon, like the gun, capable of leaving its user unharmed. Still, it takes a lot of skill and strength to use it effectively and it is quite a bit of stuff to carry around. I like archery as a sport but would hate to depend on it in case of an armed attack.