"If you believe it reprehensible to possess the means and will to use lethal force to repel a criminal assault, how can you call upon another to do so for you?"
by:
Jeffrey R. Snyder
American attorney, author
Source:
A Nation of Cowards, 113 Public Interest 40, 52 (Fall 1993)
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Reader comments about this quote:
Every single day with your help, I'm reminded that it is I and no one else who is responsible for my actions, thoughts and dreams. I accept the challenge. Thank you.
 -- Gary Bell, Port Charlotte, FL & Jericho, VT     
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    Conversely, it is reprehensible to be told that you have "no right" to defend yourself. Given the gun grabber agenda, they would "civilize" us right out of existence.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    After you are mugged, beaten,raped, robbed, or murdered, the police will be happy to make a report and try to find the culprit. We have to look to our own safety, not to the cops.
     -- jim k, Austin,Tx     
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    There are other paths, and we need only look to places like England to seem them. Its time to leave the caves and grow up.
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA, US     
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    Only a coward would sign as "Anonymous" and probably expect some one else to protect him, his family and property. Cowards are the first to give up their freedom.
     -- elena, Philipsburg Montana     
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     -- elena, Philipsburg Montana      
    Reston....England is an absolute JOKE! People there are REGULARLY robbed, raped etc...they just don't publicize it in order to keep as many people as they can stupefied as to facts and reality...ah but I digress...The stupid can not be made unstupid...
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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     -- RBESRQ      
    It regularly amazes me that there really are people who think like Reston and Waffler. It is so difficult to believe that anyone could be so ignorant and irrational. I believe that its the desire to control others that is the root of such obstinate irrationality.
     -- John Pettitt, fredericksburg, va     
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    Reston...There are well over 250 million privately-owned firearms in the U.S., including nearly 100 million handguns and tens of millions of “assault weapons”, and that number typically rises about 4 million per year. So, if you don't like your neighbor owning a firearm, you should move to the England that you love so dear.
     -- Publius     
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    If you want reality here it is: http://www.escapefromamerica.com/2010/06/escape-from-america-the-grim-truth/?source=patrick.net Obviously, John has no idea about political philosophy - it's a bit like the pot calling the kettle black. The problem with Americans is that when you question authority you are immediately considered irrational and worse a comme. America please grow up and join the rest of civilization...
     -- RBESRQ     
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    Even individual Borg members or segments found self preservation started with the one. Less than or, rejection of the quote's sentiment is a condemnation and loathing of self with irrational rejection of personal responsibility.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    These are exactly right on!!! Correct!
     -- jefferoo, wichita     
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    The quote is right on. RBE, I read the article in Escape from America -- nothing to do whatsoever with the quote, but many good points on why Americans are looking elsewhere just as the early Americans left England. If you dislike the US so much, why don't you return to England where you are from, RBE? Sure, there is little crime in Singapore -- death sentence for drug users, littering can get you beaten with a bamboo cane -- it is a very beautiful police state. Canada is great, and there are more guns per capita there than in the US with a fraction of the crime rate -- of course taxes for middle class are about 40% and much higher for incomes over $100K -- and the health care system is fine, but don't think for a minute that the proposed ObamaCare plan is modelled after it, not one bit! I could go on about how all these countries have had their own economic meltdowns within the last 20 years -- all caused by the same funny money system that is breaking the US. So, yeah, it is better to leave a country caught with the funny money hot potato and go to a country that has just recovered. Good article, but not relevant to the current quote.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    RBESRQ...In case you haven't seen it, I left you a comment on yesterday's first quote. Can you answer the questions?
     -- Publius     
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    Excellent logical thinking in this quote. This: to PUBLIUS. I'm afraid we have to give credit where credit is due. We must admit that Waffler and RBESRQ, (whatever that means), do provide nuisance value. They give us something to butt our heads against. I have to agree with Pettitt of Fredericksburg,VA that Waffler and RBE appear to be both ignorant and irrational, but I think they actually believe what they write. They consistently answer from the same skewed mindset. It is a socialist approach that is a hallmark of the Progressive liberal agenda.
     -- Carol, Georgia     
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    Carol...Of course they believe what they write. Many of the socialists that cry out for the suffocating security blanket of big government, truly trust that such power would be beneficial to us all. Many socialists are good people with good intentions. However, it is results, not intentions, that impact mankind. Whether the intentions are good or bad, the results are the same; they are equally contrary to the cause of liberty. Therefore, we should disregard what we think they're intentions are, stand up for what is right, and pray the Almighty assists us in our endeavors.
     -- Publius     
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    Utter nonsense. A person is safer in Havana than in New York.
     -- Gary Wells, Trenton, Ontario     
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    Gary in Ontario..."Everyone" is safe in a Police State...until they run into a policeman. Maybe you don't get the concept of "freedom" at all.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Gary, PS - I notice you used NY as an example. NY has an almost total gun ban for law abiding citizens. In other words only the criminals and cops have hand guns leaving everyone else at the mercy of criminals who have nothing to worry about and cops...who can't possible protect anyone. See a correlation yet?
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Gary, what is nonsense specifically? Your statement doesn't quite fit the quote. 'A' from Reston, Robert and Gary, do you believe it reprehensible to possess the means and will to use lethal force to repel a criminal assault against you or your significant other? In a Representative Republic, how can you call upon another to repel an immediate (or otherwise) physical attack if you don't have that individual right. A representative can do nothing for you that you can not do yourself.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Don't take my word for it, look it up for yourself; there are dozens and dozens of Supreme Court decisions describing, under every imaginable scenario, that there is no policing agency (local to national) that has any job description, responsibility, liability, or obligation (moral, legal or otherwise) to protect or serve individuals. All policing bodies primary job descriptions are to serve and protect government property. The current United Socialist of Amerika (USA) is NOT a government of, by or for We The People! ! !
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    To ease a week conscience, don't you see. Unwilling to face reality. Children to timid, to hold at bay, the robber which wishes to take their life away. A sheriff for the county, a policeman for the city, for that watch in the night. Or perhaps even in the day. Lawlessness increases, where slack laws make for weak defenses.
    To disarm a man, makes him a prey. Predators in high places, making the minds so weak, as to think they only, guard the street. Semper Fi.
     -- Ron w13, Or     
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    THE POLICE CANNOT PROTECT YOU . AFTER YOU ARE ROBBED AND MURDERED THE COPS WILL TAKE A REPORT AND TRY AND FIND THE CULPRIT.
     -- jim k, austin tx     
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     -- Wayne H., Hudson, NH      
    You're ought of your mind, Snyder, There are just criminals with a premeditated mental disorder going around looking to shoot someone and calling it self defense.  This crime is called  entrapment and every firearm owner would be liable for this crime in a justified social arrangement. The need is for a elimination of firearms, and offensive weaponry in general. What primarily is needed is honorable, authentic, responsible leadership.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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