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The rite to bear arms

Rachel Saunders
4 min read1 day ago

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Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-standing-with-his-dog-6204533/

When the rule of law fails or is overturned by tyranny we have the rear to bear arms against those who seek to oppress us. This was embedded in the US Constitution and the 1946 United Nations Declarations of Human Rights, that every person has the right to overturn tyrannical oppression through violence if necessary. This has been a mantra for many oppressed peoples over the course of history, a rite that has sustained hope in times of darkness. Violence has given people freedom from tyranny, such as Americans from the British, the Irish from the British, Croatians from the Serbs, yet when violence becomes a mantra, a rite, it becomes a way rather than a means. Violence is never the solution to tyranny, it is the means through which the solution happens, and as such any resort to violence must have a peaceful resolution.

Donald Trump’s disregard for the rule of law raises questions about what rite is claimed by which parties. There are plenty of law enforcement and militia members who support Trump’s rise to power, their understanding of the right to bear arms comes from a libertarian position that central government causes more harm that good. Guns rights advocate root their acceptance of guns within society on this rite to overcome oppressive governmental action. As Timothy McVey demonstrated using violence to take down legitimate rule of law based government by killing innocent federal employees and…

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Rachel Saunders
Rachel Saunders

Written by Rachel Saunders

Writer, researcher, and generally curious

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