By Kimberley Ball
New Jersey –-(Ammoland.com)- As a woman, I have been watching the recent debates regarding subsidizing or providing free birth control with interest. In doing so, I began to contemplate the benefit/cost analysis of subsidizing other goods and services we now currently fund as individuals.
During this process, I came to the conclusion we need to start subsidizing ammunition.
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a constitutionally defined right, as well as a basic human right to protect oneself from danger or aggression. The right to birth control, however, is not a right provided for in the Constitution. Since there is no defined right to birth control, but there is a defined right to defend oneself and property, I would think that makes the argument for subsidizing ammunition an even stronger one. Now, although I fully understand that birth control was not available at the time the Constitution was written, I do believe many of the arguments for subsidizing birth control could easily apply to ammunition as well.
Healthy Lifestyle
We often see the argument for birth control/abortion explain that it is a woman’s right to control her own body. I would agree. However, if one recognizes that right, how then is it possible to explain to a woman (or a man, for that matter) that she has no right to take responsibility for her own health and well-being through means that would protect her from harm in situations that could possibly injure or permanently disable her for life?
By accepting the responsibility to protect myself through use of my firearm, I am lowering my chances of rape, robbery, beating, and possibly murder. Under that scenario, my ammunition (and by extension, my firearm) increase my ability to lead a healthy lifestyle. Contrary to popular belief, the police are under no legal obligation to protect you, but even if they were they could not be there 24/7.
Subsidizing my ammunition would give me a cost effective way to react to any threat to my person, health, and well-being.
Unwanted Criminals
Another argument for providing birth control is that it prevents the taxpayer from having to support unwanted children.
My ammunition can also relieve an unwanted strain on taxpayers, by eliminating unwanted criminals. These people, once in the system, are a financial burden. Although we cannot prevent crime 100%, perhaps it would be more effective if we eliminated criminals before they can become an unwanted expense.
Let’s view a situation of rape: Assuming the perpetrator is caught, we now have a costly trial, including a public defender and mounds of paperwork. Assuming they are found guilty, we now have a costly incarceration. While in prison, we fund their food, clothing, shelter, counseling, education and healthcare. We pay for prison guards to babysit them, and administrators to file paperwork. Assuming they ever leave the prison system, they are still highly likely to commit a crime again. Now let’s view the same situation, but with a legally armed woman with, let’s say, a Mossberg 500 with #00 buckshot. For the cost of 1 shotgun shell (about $1.00, give or take), the perpetrator is killed on the scene. Sure, there would be some administrative costs, like paying the guy to come draw the chalk outline. Even so, in addition to the above costs of incarcerating someone, we have also saved the woman’s health. She can avoid counseling, an embarrassing trial, intimacy issues in future relationships, and an unwanted pregnancy that might result from the rape. She will not have to worry the criminal will ever escape prison, or fear for her life should he be released.
In this particular case, that $1.00 shotgun shell was very affordable birth control, at the very least. At best, the money the taxpayers have saved is probably in the hundreds of thousands.
Law Abiding Criminals?
Now, before everyone starts screaming “But criminals will use them to harm people! There will be shootouts in the street!”. Let me be clear – no “criminal” follows gun laws, which is why they are criminals. No criminal goes through the criminal background check, fingerprinting, or mental health check a law-abiding citizen does. So the way around this is simple: in order to qualify for government-subsidized ammunition, one must simply present their NJ-issued firearms ID. This should be sufficient enough. You don’t need ID to receive medical care, or vote, so this requirement is actually stricter than what is required in many everyday situations. I can go out of state to buy ammunition without a NJ Firearms ID, so I can promise you criminals aren’t going to try to apply for one or even forge one when they can simply walk or drive to any PA Walmart and stock up.
I will go one step further and encourage subsidizing self-defense and firearm safety classes. This will help keep citizens and lawful gun owners safer, again saving taxpayers money.
I demand the right to protect my body. I demand the right to protect my health and the health of my family. And I think it is time the government stepped up and made it affordable for me to do so.
About New Jersey Second Amendment Society
Our mission is to promote the free exercise of Second Amendment rights within the community and Legislature of New Jersey, to educate the community regarding the enjoyable, safe, and responsible use of firearms, and to engender a sense of camaraderie and fellowship among the members and their families. Visit: www.nj2as.com
I thought of this idea, I call it Anthonism-Socialism, after my name Anthony, since I thought of the idea, Subsidized Food, Healthcare, Housing, Trtansportation, and AMMUNITION, GUNS, AND TRAINING, FOR A NATIONWIDE PEOPLE'S MILITIA. A cross between the American constitutional militias of 1776, and communist red guards. Meant do deal with ALL violent crime, i.e. murder, rape, assault, etc… as an act of war against the people, who make up the nation! The color is Green instead of communist red.
A while back, I was… discussing the healthcare mandate with a very liberal member of our synagogue. I felt similarly, that the Government should pay for that new sniper rifle I wanted. Would heighten my sense of security for my family. He just threw his hands in the air, yelled that I was being ridiculous and stalked away. Subsidys are thr Liberals way of fostering dependence on Government. Not for anything useful.
Hitler offered an ammo subsidy just before he began his quest to conquer the world. People sent in a list of their guns and which caliber of ammo they needed, so der Fuhrer had a complete gun list for subsequent confiscation. Quite handy, don't you think? I'll buy my own, thank you very much.
Kimberely Ball is truly a forward thinking lady ahd definitely has the right idea. If she has her way, the gene pool will be immeasurably improved. Right On!
100% great read fantastic logic,
I suspect the reason governments don't subsidize ammunition or firearms is they don't want an armed populace. They don't want you to be able to defend yourself against *them* (the legal criminals, i.e., government, police, etc.). They're not interested in you being able to defend yourself against illegal criminals. That's what the police are for, they say (despite the lack of police responsibility for protecting person and property).
There's a legal point worth adding here. The Constitution does not at all authorize any subsidies for much of anything, EXCEPT for arming the militia (see Article I, Section 8). And no, that doesn't mean the National Guard. Every able-bodied male in a certain age range is included in the federal definition of the militia (10 USC 311(a)). Aside from non-military women being excluded, that means that arming regular citizens is the one "subsidy" actually specifically AUTHORIZED by the Constitution. So where are my free bullets?