The American Militia

Waving The Flag

How often have you encountered someone speaking unkindly about firearms and unkindly about gun owners in general? It may have been a personal encounter, or something you saw or heard in the media. It may have been at a school or civic meeting. Perhaps someone said that we would all be safer if there were no guns.

This is important; listen carefully to what is said. Remember this person so you can identify his type in the future. He values personal safety over liberty. You are in the presence of a shallow mind.

You know the situation; you are at a town council meeting about some new regulation being proposed and a concerned citizen or even a council person takes the floor and explains how urgent it is that all firearms be removed from society so as to stop harm from coming to the civilians. He says that only the police and the army needs any weapons. He actually says that individuals should not use any force to defend themselves. He is immoral.

Any person who says he will not use force to defend himself has taken a profound personal stand. I do not disapprove of it; being his personal choice he is free to hold it. I commend him on his courage and wish him well, knowing that eventually his choice may cut short his future. He will be unprepared in tools, in training and mind set to do anything about that which attacks him and affects his future.

However, any person who says another can not defend himself, has established an immoral position. He is attempting to enforce his personal principal on others, a principal that surely would cause him harm if need be and he can not defend himself. It is contrary to human right. It is a fundamental affront to human freedom. I wonder if his family and community understand the risk they are taking being in the presence of someone with such an attitude? It is a double risk, he will not defend himself and also he will become a burden on others when attacked. He probably will scream the loudest calling 911 and demanding protection. He has not been listening; rescue or protection of any individual is not required by public services. Itīs the law.

This kind of attitude needs to be countered with some strong medicine. It is time to Wave the Flag.

If you are in public and someone espouses disarmament as a path to safety, use the logic outlined above; Congratulate him for his personal courage to accept an attack and express your sympathy for his family and those around him. Then remind him that he can not demand that others follow his personal and obviously hazardous path. Ask him what he would do if actually attacked, if his family were in danger, and suddenly he finds himself armed and could fight back. If he would still not fight, remind him to stay alert so as to be able to run faster and sooner, hoping others might fall to the attacker while he escapes. At least if he escapes he will not leave a mess that others will have to clean up.

Do not wait for such conversations to arise of their own accord so you can state your position. Be pro-active, Wave the Flag.

The flag is any symbol or statement that will be socially acceptable, not an intrusion but a proper self statement at the time. It brings up the subject of freedom and Personal Protection. Imagine you were to go into a company meeting or a social gathering. On your jacket lapel is a small pin, perhaps in the shape of the US Flag, or a badge or a firearm. You will most likely be asked, as social small talk, what the pin is about.

Youīre on! The floor is yours and the conversation has just started precisely down the path you want to take. It all depends on the crowd and the occasion but a response something like, "Oh, this little pin? Thatīs a 1911 pistol. I shoot one like it in IDPA firearm defense competition and in practice at the range. Our group has many folks like me in it; professionals, law enforcement, home makers and the like. Would you like to come on out and watch some day?" From there on it is just follow your nose.

How many flags are there? Just think a bit and you will find dozens. The "Gun Owner" Money Stamp is one. Assuming you have not encountered it yet at an area Gun Show, here is what it is about. Stamping a suitable message on currency, and then spending that currency, will get the occasional clerk asking about it. Yes it is legal to mark currency with such First Amendment speech. Stamping bill payment check memos, receipts, candidate contribution forms and return letters to Pro-gun and Anti-gun groups; all these "Gun Owner" stamp messages wave the flag.

Do you have a flag that you can fly from the front porch that will state your position and encourage your neighbors to chat? Does "Donīt Tread on Me" turn a phrase you can expound upon? Do you have some bumper stickers or window decals that will elicit a toot and wave in traffic? The full hand joyful wave identifies a friend, the one finger wave says you have definitely gotten the message to the other guy.

Donīt be afraid to wave the flag, thinking that others will target you. Donīt hide in the closet and do nothing (we will talk about those folks later) you must be active to take this message to the public. Less formal venues open themselves to hats and shirts, there are plenty of them. Going out for a walk in the park, wear one and be ready to talk to strangers.

The media know all about what is called "impressions". They sell advertising time based on the quantity and relative value of the impressions an ad will make with the public. Our task is the same. The more impressions (positive impressions please) we leave on the public, the more readily gun owners will be acknowledged as a force for good in the community. Is there an emergency condition, a snow emergency perhaps where medical staff needs transportation? Grab your 4x4 truck (or your neighbor and his truck if you do not have on), affix a few gun club stickers to it, grab a handful of "flags" to take along and hand out, call those asking for help and hit the road. The people you meet will see the decals, the club flyers, a hat or jacket patch. You may give them a "flag" and tell them it was a pleasure that your group could help them. They WILL remember that. You will remind them that you are part of the crew from your club (even if it is only a crew of one) out helping in the emergency. Wave the flag.

The American Militia is that body of the Citizens who have the material, training, and ability to answer the call to arms for any emergency. You promote that understanding by waving the flag and responding when called. If you ever come across someone also wearing a flag from his service to the country, the old guy with the WWII Veteran hat for example, make sure you have a "flag" for him. A US Flag lapel or hat pin is just the thing. Thank him for his service and hand him the pin.

The same thing goes for folks in uniform you meet. Suppose you are standing at the baggage claim at an airport you see a dozen men in uniform. You ask them if they are coming home or heading out. They are going into harms way in the infantry so you ask who is in charge (or you talk to the one with the sergeantsī stripes) and ask who is the best shot in the group. That person gets the Fifty Caliber Shooters Association US Flag style pin. You only have one pin so you have to identify the proper recipient. It is even better if you take it off your own lapel, to give out as a token of your thanks. Asking and making small talk is as good a way as any to decide who to give it to. They will remember you and may spread your message to others. Military, LEOīs, emergency service workers can most likely wear a US Flag pin on their uniform. Carry some with you.

Most importantly, wave the flag as much as possible in public where as many "Impressions" as possible will be made and with influential people.

The American Militia is prepared; for major action or minor flag waving. Prove it to others and encourage them to learn and prepare and understand that, "we are all around you".