Duty Calls

Doing Their Duty

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

Credence Clearwater Revival

Five or six citizens came down to the mall to help guard the recruiters who had been forbidden to carry weapons in their own defense. There were a couple of AKs and everyone had a sidearm. Some had vests with extra magazines in case there was a gun battle. A couple had shotguns with extra shells fixed to the weapon so that they would be ready when the need came. It was a quiet morning and they all were bonded in the camaraderie that had developed among these citizens with a common cause. Shortly after 10 A.M. one of the men knelt and began firing at one of the others, then another. The others ran for cover behind the supporting pillars and began to return fire at the one who had attacked them. By then he had focused his attention on the recruiters and emptied a magazine into the office from his shelter behind a car. A shotgun opened up scattering pellets all over the parking lot and 3 of the citizens began firing at the car with their sidearms. Bullets ricocheted all over the lot and other shoppers began to dive under cars for shelter. Within a few minutes three police cars raced up with lights flashing and sirens screaming. The officers jumped out of their cars, sheltering behind the doors and began firing at....................................who? The gunfire had lasted only a few minutes and already there were wounded people lying in the parking lot.

Yes, it's an imaginary scenario but one that is not so far fetched. All over the country people are showing up at recruiting stations armed to the teeth in a show of solidarity with the recruiters who are prevented by law from carrying weapons. You see, the armed forces have no jurisdiction domestically and that is why we have civilian police. At one time our forefathers who had known first hand the danger of having a military, answerable to a commander-in-chief, that would follow orders to secure the wishes of their commander. They knew how that power could be abused and so they stipulated that our military could not be used domestically except under martial law.

But what about the civilian police force that is designed to be made up of civilians just like us and answerable to us? In this imaginary scenario how would they be able to do their jobs. How would they be able to distinguish between the one who attacked and those who defended? They all look the same and have the same kind of weapons. If they expose themselves how would they know who would fire back and who would not? How would they be able to reach those inside the building if they dared not leave the shelter of their cars for fear one of the armed civilians would be the attacker.

Just as there are good reasons that the recruiters are unarmed there are also good reasons why it is a bad idea for citizens to be packing firearms. While we still have those who insist that we would be a safer society if people were armed police chiefs across the nation have nightmares about how to deal with a situation in which the officers can't tell the good guys from the bad guys.

There are saner heads at work. The military command has asked citizens to refrain from arming themselves and holding forth outside recruiting stations. Those who are working there are instructed to not hold conversations with the armed civilians or encourage them. Our military leaders can see the potential conflicts that could arise from untrained civilians who have no command structure engaging in gunfire in the streets. We should be thankful for those who can make sane decisions in times of tribulation.

And what of those people who have armed up and gone to “do their duty?” Well, firstly they are badly mistaken if they think they are helping. I don't want to paint all of them with the same brush because some of them are very likely self-sacrificing people who are deluded in thinking their service is necessary. I would strongly suggest that if they want to take on an enemy they should enlist but it should be recognized that the armed forces have standards. I suspect that a large number of them are simply people who want an excuse to wear weapons and bulletproof vests in public so everyone can see how bad they are. It may be appropriate for them to be required to take a week or two of classes in proper firearm technique (if they can stand a classroom that long).

My Take is that I see so much these days about someone, anyone lacking “common sense.” If this is what passes for common sense then we need to try something else. Perhaps some “uncommon sense.”