The Battle of Athens

published Aug 02, 2007, last modified Jun 26, 2013

You thought guns were only for criminals. You thought those wanting to hold guns were paranoid wackos. You were wrong:

IX. The Lessons of Athens

Those who took up arms in Athens, Tennessee:

  • wanted honest elections, a cornerstone of our Constitutional order;
  • had repeatedly tried to get Federal or State election monitors;
  • used armed force so as to minimize harm to the law-breakers;
  • showed little malice to the defeated law-breakers;
  • restored lawful government.

The Battle of Athens clearly shows:

  • how Americans can and should lawfully use armed force;
  • why the Rule of Law requires unrestricted access to firearms;
  • how civilians with military-type firearms can beat the forces of "law and order".

Dictators believe that public order is more important than the Rule of Law. However, Americans reject this idea. Criminals can exploit for selfish ends, the use armed force to restore the Rule of Law. But brutal political repression - as practiced by Cantrell and Mansfield - is lethal to many. An individual criminal can harm a handful of people. Governments alone can brutalize thousands, or millions.

Of course dictators and their followers belive that public order is paramount -- otherwise, how are they going to conduct their corrupt affairs in peace? Whenever you hear someone against guns because "they endanger public order"... well, now you know what they really mean.

Source: The Battle of Athens.