The president, in a somber but defiant tone, suggested that Washington and the rest of the country has lost its resolve to end the level of gun violence that sets the United States apart from other countries.

via Obama honors shooting victims, urges Americans to help stop gun violence | Fox News.

What set us apart from other countries is that our government does not have what is called “a monopoly on killing.” Most of the governments in the world keep the absolute authority to issue death under a legal cover created by themselves. Even in cases of plain self-defense, a citizen has to prove beyond doubt to a government-appointed official that the killing was necessary and even then, that official can indict the citizen for not retreating enough or no reason at all. Or the government can initiate on its own an action that involves death or grave bodily action if the citizen has broken a law imposed by the same government. And of course, any government has the absolute authority to start a war. Although we elect the people in the government and expect them to behave according to a moral code, the temptation of absolute power can be too much to resist and the Monopoly on Death too good not to use.

No matter how much can you parse it, no government in the world can eliminate violence. And if the government is the only one allowed to inflict violence, soon enough somebody in the spheres of power that thinks it is a grandiose tool to effect social change, restrain opposition and keep things peaceful and within the lines they think is the utopic way of living.

But when there is no “monopoly on killing.” When the intended targets not only can respond in kind but can do it overwhelmingly, it keeps those in power not only in a temporary basis but lawfully and respectful of the rights of the People… for the most part.

The Second Amendment is the “monopoly buster.” It helps remind both government and enemies of our society (but I repeat myself) that certain actions may have dire consequences. We repeat this from quote Robert Heinlein because it is true: “An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.” It is Emily Post write large with the auspices of Samuel Colt, John Browning and Eugene Stoner.

The message we keep giving you is simple: Go after the true causes of the violence and just leave us alone. Our guns are not responsible in any way for your continual political failures on keeping violence under some shade of control.