Rachel Lucas has a post with 259 comments (at the time of this posting) on the topic of British compelled helplessness, the loss of their aggressive edge, and their inability to distinguish violent-and-predatory from violent-but-protective. Many of the comments are, of course, infuriating.
Example:
I’m one of those idiots who think we’d all be a lot safer without so many knives around. And it seems the police in the UK (not a bunch of woolly liberals on the whole) agree with me, as they’ve fairly regularly held knife amnesties with the intention of making the streets safer.
At the end of the day, it’s a legitimate philosophical difference – am I safer with there being far fewer guns around to shoot me with, or is the proliferation of guns a price worth paying as long as one of those guns is in my hand and I’m trained to use it? I prefer the former option, and I suspect I always will.
I understand a little better each day Samuel Adams:
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, — go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!
UPDATE: And here’s the clincher, from the source of the initial quote:
I think this is another crucial aspect of the cultural difference between the US and countries like Britain with strict gun controls. You see, I believe in liberty as well – and the cornerstone of that is the freedom to live and the freedom from fear. Freedom that can only be safeguarded by a gun in my hand and the sharpness of my physical reflexes is a very poor quality, one-dimensional freedom. The widespread possession of deadly weapons by others is therefore a severe infringement of my personal liberty. And, yes, I am being utterly serious.
“Freedom from fear.” And where have we heard that before?
Another commenter answered that plea as well if not better than I could:
OvertheCliff Says:
Scotgo: I think this is another crucial aspect of the cultural difference between the US and countries like Britain with strict gun controls. You see, I believe in liberty as well – and the cornerstone of that is the freedom to live and the freedom from fear.
This might be the whole reason this thread is as long as it is. Thank you, Scotgo, for pointing out that liberty, to you, means “freedom from fear.”
Now if I can ask you to please take a moment and think that through.
Freedom that can only be safeguarded by a gun in my hand and the sharpness of my physical reflexes is a very poor quality, one-dimensional freedom.
As opposed to “freedom” that can only be safeguarded by the state, you mean?
Again … please think this through. You seem like a very intelligent person. I’m confident that you can work your way through this. Furthermore, I’m confident that when you do, your eyes will open like Paul on the proverbial road to Damascus.
The widespread possession of deadly weapons by others is therefore a severe infringement of my personal liberty. And, yes, I am being utterly serious.
I feel very sure this cognitive dissonance you’re experiencing is the result of you not applying your considerable intellect to this issue.
Scotgo, we’re not smarter than you. But we’re more free. In fact, we’re more free than you have ever imagined being, considering what you just said.
Not only more free that he’s ever imagined, more free than he can ever possibly understand.
And I note that the UK isn’t particularly “free of fear” even in its (*cough*) “disarmed” state.