“
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.”
―
George Washington
The only way a government can secure compliance with its laws is by maintaining the threat of force or violence.
Likewise, all liberty is ultimately protected by the threat of violence.
When force is heavily imbalanced in favor of government against the governed, violence is no longer a threat, and liberty is no longer secured.
It follows, then, that the most important liberty is the possession of the tools necessary to protect all other liberties. The tools necessary must be powerful enough to balance the threat. When one side has military-grade weapons and the other is reduced to flint-lock rifles, swords, knives, stones, and strong language, liberty is not secure.
Most libertarians will accept some measure of restriction on the right to keep and bear arms, but the authoritarian side does not want to back down. The authoritarians will push until there is no right, and the people are no longer self-governing, but are subjects.
Even with the current firearm restrictions, the people still maintain the balance of force, but there is no room for further restrictions. If the authoritarians win, and we are deprived the right to at least semi-automatic rifles with extended magazines, not only will American liberties be at risk, but the entire world.
The status quo, at a minimum, MUST be maintained if we are to resist the authoritarian lust for power, control, and suppression of individual liberties.
If you value free speech, if you value free press, religion, or privacy, you MUST maintain your ability to protect those liberties.
If you are not armed, you are a shitty citizen. Arm yourselves, and quit being part of the problem.