Alan Korwin is an unusual writer at Townhall.com, which is a shame because he is an excellent writer, writing Gun Laws of America through now 6 editions. But today, he is writing An Open Letter On Utopian Pacifism. What? An essay by a gun writer on pacifism? What gives? But if you know the history of "Utopia" it might clue you in to Korwin's philosophy...and mine for that matter.
I’m a Utopian Pacifist. Although I’ve written ten successful books on American gun law*, I support no weapons of any kind on the surface of the Earth, in an era of enduring peace, prosperity, harmony and abundance.
It turns out this is impossible (utopian). The problem is The Four Horsemen of Human Havoc: angry hungry stupid and wicked.
...snip...
If I could wave a wand and make guns disappear, the brutal communist Chinese dictatorship would make new ones. And the Italians (Beretta), Brazilians (Taurus), Russians (AK-47), Austrians (Glock)—all armed nations would be in business making the iron river. Including basement tinkerers.
Wands are fiction but you can imagine a gun-free world—just think back to pre-gun times. What you get is Genghis Kahn with rampaging hordes, Julius Caesar and Roman Legion crucifixions, Vlad the Impaler, universal serfdom and endless millions horribly murdered. A gun-filled world paradoxically turns out to be more civilized, with safer neighborhoods—even though evil people and government tyrants rampage constantly. Our guns help control them.
A gun-filled world is actually more civilized than a gunless one, with sword-bearing bad guys committing slaughter.
...snip...
I stand by my philosophy, and await the day when evil evaporates and guns are no longer needed. Until then, the Marines have it right: Peace through superior firepower. Do not submit to elitist demands to disarm you.
I didn't come up with this formulation, and I don't remember where I first heard it, but I will shamelessly use it: There are only two ways to change a person's mind. You can either use persuasion or force. Persuasion is the only moral and civilized way. If both parties are armed, persuasion is the only way. The gun is the great equalizer, making the old, the frail, the weak the equal of the young, the healthy and strong. Thus, the gun is a force for good, with nearly 1 million defensive gun uses per year, most with no shots fired.
Along the way, Korwin throws out some interesting statistics. For example, did you know that the shooting sports are more popular than golf?
Gentle readers should read the entire essay, and follow Korwin's advice: Do not, under any circumstance, give up your guns. And keep fighting for your gun rights, if not for yourselves, then for your childrens' sake.
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