MR. BRENNEKE
03-13-2004, 12:10
The Birth of a Minuteman - by Ty Benabe http://www.nycasa.com/
At the time of the L.A. riots, I was working as a community service aide for the kings county district attorneys office. During my lunch hour it was common to find me outside 210 Joralemon street, smoking a cigarette before I entered the building to go back to work. And It was here for the first time that I realized that the system, that civil society was, for the most part, an illusion.
The falsehood that my safety was secured by institutions in place to respond to crisis was shattered forever, in exchange for the sight of some three to four hundred youths running down the length of Fulton street (a shopping center in brooklyn ) breaking storefront windows as they rampaged in my direction. Watching the NYPD hastily retreat , It was then that I realized that my safety, the defense of my life, was first and foremost dependent on me. I realized that when society begins to fracture, it will be in the end, every man for himself.
I acted on this experience and shortly after, purchased my first firearm . And began to feel for the first time, secure in my own home. I felt empowered now to respond to the kinds of naked aggression and hostility seen so many times before. On the evening news and documented footage and literature over the lessons of history. I may not be able to control the evils of the world, but should it find its way to my door. It will meet resistance to say the least. And I was not going to be a non-responsive victim. I was not going to rely on my telephone and pray for somebody, some unseen government entity to rescue me. I was going to defend my life, my home, my family and property. And now, if needed, my nation.
With that mindset, It was then that I joined the ranks of some 80 million armed Americans. I was now a part of a force, unlike any on the face of the earth. I was now truly an American citizen. In possession of the greatest tangible symbol of liberty to be had. And I was now also the greatest threat to those spokes of the government machine that seeks to enslave mankind. That political mechanism born with every generation since the beginning of supposed "civilization" to render helpless, control, enslave and kill the concept of individual liberty. Something you become keenly aware of when you exercise your second amendment rights. A level of discrimination not seen in my opinion since slavery. But as the battle to end slavery continues today, we gun owners from every walk of life endure. Struggling to preserve the very freedoms of those who hate and fear us.
The obvious question from all this is what hope of converting the unwashed minds from the anti-gun movement. A movement steeped in misinformation. Hysteria and the notion that the less ability you have to defend your life, family and country, the better you will be? Despite the daily information we see and hear on the corruption of elected officials, government agencies and lethal abuses by many in the law-enforcement community (which has over the past ten years become increasingly militarized and controlled by the federal government rather than the state). What more convincing do those sitting on the fence need to understand the necessity of a fully armed citizenry? Im not talking about hunting here.
On september 11th, within a matter of minutes, the world trade center collapsed into history. Taking with it the lives of thousands. In a matter of seconds, over 400 police, fire and paramedic public servants perished forever. Leaving an instant shortage of crucial personal emergency services. What I learned again, as I did before, that at any moment, society can break down. And had the terrorist managed to to destroy other structures. As well as the power grids to the city and endured a week without power in addition to the attacks, what then? Who would be left to maintain order? We can quickly conclude that It would not take much by the enemies of this nation to bring the system to its knees. I say the "system". Not the American people.
When I hear of "homeland security", it is not Tom Ridge that I think of. It is not the national guard, the navy, the marines or any of the multi-billion dollar toys of the pentagon that come to mind. The second amendment does. The original "homeland security". The security not of the government, but of and for the American people to effectively wage war against any enemy, any foe who would seek to enslave or destroy our way of life. The second amendment reigns as the premier tool of liberty and self-government. It is the TEETH that follows the spoken word of our constitution ( I could not fear a toothless PIT-BULL, could you?) but I digress.
In the grand scheme of things, sitting at home on my sofa with a firearm nearby, this may not seem that important to many. That is and always will be, until something happens. Unfortunately, most folks dont get it until its too late. They will wait until it is no-longer possible to access firearms to act. They will be informed long after the fact, that they must wait to get "permission" to own one. The very same gun control measures that they supported through their anti-gun politicians may now cost them their lives and the lives of family members. All in the name of "safety".
A minuteman was a citizen. Armed with rifles. Well stocked with ammunition and able to be ready to respond to a crisis within 60 seconds..... I can be ready in 20.
At the time of the L.A. riots, I was working as a community service aide for the kings county district attorneys office. During my lunch hour it was common to find me outside 210 Joralemon street, smoking a cigarette before I entered the building to go back to work. And It was here for the first time that I realized that the system, that civil society was, for the most part, an illusion.
The falsehood that my safety was secured by institutions in place to respond to crisis was shattered forever, in exchange for the sight of some three to four hundred youths running down the length of Fulton street (a shopping center in brooklyn ) breaking storefront windows as they rampaged in my direction. Watching the NYPD hastily retreat , It was then that I realized that my safety, the defense of my life, was first and foremost dependent on me. I realized that when society begins to fracture, it will be in the end, every man for himself.
I acted on this experience and shortly after, purchased my first firearm . And began to feel for the first time, secure in my own home. I felt empowered now to respond to the kinds of naked aggression and hostility seen so many times before. On the evening news and documented footage and literature over the lessons of history. I may not be able to control the evils of the world, but should it find its way to my door. It will meet resistance to say the least. And I was not going to be a non-responsive victim. I was not going to rely on my telephone and pray for somebody, some unseen government entity to rescue me. I was going to defend my life, my home, my family and property. And now, if needed, my nation.
With that mindset, It was then that I joined the ranks of some 80 million armed Americans. I was now a part of a force, unlike any on the face of the earth. I was now truly an American citizen. In possession of the greatest tangible symbol of liberty to be had. And I was now also the greatest threat to those spokes of the government machine that seeks to enslave mankind. That political mechanism born with every generation since the beginning of supposed "civilization" to render helpless, control, enslave and kill the concept of individual liberty. Something you become keenly aware of when you exercise your second amendment rights. A level of discrimination not seen in my opinion since slavery. But as the battle to end slavery continues today, we gun owners from every walk of life endure. Struggling to preserve the very freedoms of those who hate and fear us.
The obvious question from all this is what hope of converting the unwashed minds from the anti-gun movement. A movement steeped in misinformation. Hysteria and the notion that the less ability you have to defend your life, family and country, the better you will be? Despite the daily information we see and hear on the corruption of elected officials, government agencies and lethal abuses by many in the law-enforcement community (which has over the past ten years become increasingly militarized and controlled by the federal government rather than the state). What more convincing do those sitting on the fence need to understand the necessity of a fully armed citizenry? Im not talking about hunting here.
On september 11th, within a matter of minutes, the world trade center collapsed into history. Taking with it the lives of thousands. In a matter of seconds, over 400 police, fire and paramedic public servants perished forever. Leaving an instant shortage of crucial personal emergency services. What I learned again, as I did before, that at any moment, society can break down. And had the terrorist managed to to destroy other structures. As well as the power grids to the city and endured a week without power in addition to the attacks, what then? Who would be left to maintain order? We can quickly conclude that It would not take much by the enemies of this nation to bring the system to its knees. I say the "system". Not the American people.
When I hear of "homeland security", it is not Tom Ridge that I think of. It is not the national guard, the navy, the marines or any of the multi-billion dollar toys of the pentagon that come to mind. The second amendment does. The original "homeland security". The security not of the government, but of and for the American people to effectively wage war against any enemy, any foe who would seek to enslave or destroy our way of life. The second amendment reigns as the premier tool of liberty and self-government. It is the TEETH that follows the spoken word of our constitution ( I could not fear a toothless PIT-BULL, could you?) but I digress.
In the grand scheme of things, sitting at home on my sofa with a firearm nearby, this may not seem that important to many. That is and always will be, until something happens. Unfortunately, most folks dont get it until its too late. They will wait until it is no-longer possible to access firearms to act. They will be informed long after the fact, that they must wait to get "permission" to own one. The very same gun control measures that they supported through their anti-gun politicians may now cost them their lives and the lives of family members. All in the name of "safety".
A minuteman was a citizen. Armed with rifles. Well stocked with ammunition and able to be ready to respond to a crisis within 60 seconds..... I can be ready in 20.