The nature of governments, completely unchecked, is to establish total and absolute control. And the reason for this is not that governments are "bad"..........It is because human nature is fueled by curiosity, exploration and domination. Governments are comprised of human beings. And because of that, they come with the same characters and faults that human beings have. Individual man has fought others for control over land and killed to resolve conflicts or protect himself from aggressors. Governments and nations wage war and defense. It is the same thing, but on a much larger scale.
There is only ONE way in this world that governments can be kept in check.......It is to have them realize that the citizens they rule over CAN and HAVE THE MEANS to employ overwhelming force to hold them accountable for their actions and overthrow them if necessary. Just like Heinlein's quote about violence. Violence is a tool, when it is controlled and used in the right way, is a most effective means of deterrence against oppression.
Medieval kings are amongst the most power hungry and brutal individuals ever to have existed in society. However, there are steep limits to how they can project their power. He can send out knights and men-at-arms to a distant village and rob, burn, rape and outright slaughter the populace there. But at the same time, the people of that village can meet the king's men head on with longbows and pikes and slaughter them too.
Today, it is a little different due to ever increasing technology. Today's governments can control digital information output, power and utilities, and unleash frightening levels of firepower from a vast array of weapons.
HOWEVER, the ability of 10%-30% of the citizenry to make head shots at 600 yards away with scoped rifles are the ONE thing that keeps governments from running out of control. Because governments are still made up of human beings acting in concert. Sure, an elk hunter with a .308 bolt action rifle cannot take on a Predator drone in the sky. BUT that same hunter can turn the drone operator's head into red mist as he sits at a family picnic. Casualties are highly costly.
As we near a universal surveillance state now with an almost frightening rate of improvements in electronic data gathering and genetic research, it is only more important now that at least a significant segment of the population continue to maintain the ability to use such great equalizers such as a simple and humble elk rifle.
Governments do not like self reliance. They prefer sheep to herd. All of the latest "trends" in popular culture, from electronic entertainment and fashion, to "social justice" and "gender identity" campaigns, are tools exploited by the ruling class to emasculate, weaken and remove the warrior spirit from as many potential fighting men as possible so as to create a whole new population of weaklings who beg for government protection. This type of indoctrination takes place at a very young age, beginning with "zero tolerance" policies in schools.
TEACH. SOMEONE. HOW. TO. SHOOT. TODAY...........And at every other opportunity.
