Gun Ownership and Delusion

A Republican congressional candidate in California, Gregg Imus, claims that the reason for America never having been invaded by a foreign country is the 2nd Amendment Rights.

This is of course laughable. The real reason for America never having had a foreign invasion is its maintaining a competent military and being effective at negotiation and commerce. As much as I am in favor of people having gun rights, I laugh at those who think that people having guns will protect them from a foreign invasion. What can a gun do against a nuclear missile? What can a gun do against a real military? Not even the most effective militia in America would be able to confront even a group such as the Taliban, much less a real army.

My views on this subject are summed up in two sentences. "I believe in both the First and the Second Amendments. The militia types have the right to have guns; I have the right to say that they are idiots." Yes, the American Constitution allows people to have guns. But to claim that this can protect them either from foreign enemies or from American government, which has at its disposal the most powerful military in the history of the world, is complete foolishness.

If these people really want to benefit their country or its liberties, fine, let them join the military, let them join the police, but don't think that running around in the woods shooting at trees does anything for their country besides making its people look like idiots.

So yes, the Constitution allows people the right to have guns, and this right should not be taken away. But let's stop fooling ourselves as to what private gun ownership can and cannot accomplish. It cannot protect the country from foreign enemies, and it cannot protect people from the government. There are legitimate uses of guns; but the grandiose beliefs of some gun owners that them having guns protects their country or people's liberties are laughable. They would need private nuclear bombs to do that. And I doubt that any politician - Republican, Democratic, Constitutionalist, Libertarian, Green or Conservative - would be in favor of that.