Authorities and Guns

@ 30.11.2022

Another aspect of life that is inextricably linked to power. In principle, we can speak of violence or force as a primary source, which in terms of the essence of the phenomenon would be the only correct one.

Nevertheless, in the era of the development of human civilization, the very notion of violence is inseparable from weapons, because weapons are actually the instrumental expression of violence in human society. The expression of violence in weapons derives in fact from the objectification of the violent nature through the very existence and possession of weapons.

In its relationship to power, weapons can have both an external and an internal function. The external function is expressed in the possible aggressive behavior of one sovereign power in relation to another in order to seize territory, resources, or the reverse in the form of the defense of its own sovereignty against external threats. In this case, the external function is the most prosaic, and everyday in the history of mankind.

Of much deeper meaning and significance is the relationship between power and weapons in the internal function. In this case, weapons may be directed by the power itself in the form of the state against society in the form of its citizens. These mechanisms are characteristic of totalitarian and autocratic states and are expressed in police and militaristic regimes. In this situation, weapons are on the side of the state.

Another form of interaction can be the possibility that society in the form of its citizens directs weapons against its own state, initializing various kinds of revolutionary phenomena. From the point of view of the state, such phenomena are absolutely dangerous, and can be the most dangerous threat to the existence of the state of all in principle possible, because no state in the world would be able to contain the massive protests of militant and simultaneously armed citizens, whatever apparatus of suppression it would possess.

This is precisely why the authorities have always been very wary of the free circulation of weapons as a civilian, trying to make it as difficult and difficult as possible, under the guise of false statements about a direct correlation between the availability of weapons and the level of violence in society. Certainly all such statements are not justified, since the level of availability is not a direct factor in increasing the level of aggression in society, since in this case aggression simply changes its forms, perhaps somewhat reducing the harm it causes.

The statements by state representatives that the free circulation of firearms provokes an upsurge in crime are completely inappropriate. Let's just say that the criminal community everywhere in the world already has free access to almost all types of small arms, despite any prohibitions.

We should not forget that the free circulation of weapons has a downside, because citizens, having conceived any illegal actions against other citizens immediately understand the fact that in response to their illegal encroachment they can receive an immediate armed response on quite legal grounds.

But the main point in the issue under consideration lies in the relationship between society and the authorities, when citizens are armed with firearms and the state apparatus is unable to properly perform its duties to maintain civil law and order, or if not, the state apparatus itself becomes a threat to the safety of citizens.

And here we are not talking about any revolutionary unrest. We are talking about the inalienable right of citizens to defend themselves by all lawful means, including weapons, under their own responsibility.

This right has been basic since the emergence of man on earth and the emergence of social and state systems.

In summary, we can say that the free circulation of weapons is the fundamental factor that constantly stimulates the state (and law enforcement) system to work and ensure the safety of citizens. Of course, it is necessary to talk about appropriate responsibility and state-civilian control (including the legislative framework) over the system of free circulation of weapons, because it must take place on a civilized basis.

Any restrictions on the free circulation of firearms are based not at all on the state's concern for its own citizens, but only on the state's fear of an outraged society and the armed citizens' motivation to make the state work effectively.

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