The Need For Effective Civil Disobedience

Constitutional We the People
We the People have the right to keep and bear arms. It says it right here on this old Constitution.

Virginia/United States – -(AmmoLand.com)-When advocacy fails, Second Amendment supporters are then faced with the hard choice: Do they comply with laws that are clearly unconstitutional, or do they disobey them? Civil disobedience is a grave step to take: Those choosing that path are risking a criminal record by defying unjust laws – and make no mistake about it, laws like semi-auto bans are unjust on both the constitutional level, as well as based on the facts.

The proposed gun ban in Virginia is one of the most egregiously unjust bans we have seen. It clearly warrants civil disobedience.

It should be kept in mind that civil disobedience is a tool, and like all tools, it must be used properly to be effective. In essence, it is telling the government that it stands at grave risk of completely losing the consent of the governed. Such a loss of consent in the 1763-1776 timeframe led to the Revolutionary War.

Done properly, civil disobedience can turn a country’s attitude around on an issue. See the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. That worked because it made people question the actions of the government – and it should be a model for Second Amendment supporters. When people saw the unjust laws being enforced, they were shocked and horrified at what was done in their name, and that generated support for the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

That said, civil disobedience can also be easily screwed up, and poorly-thought-out or executed civil disobedience can set a cause back for decades. There are many ways to screw it up – especially on Second Amendment issues. Yeah, shouting, “Molon Labe” and “From my cold, dead, hands” can be viscerally satisfying… but it also will lead a soccer mom freaked out about her kids’ school being shot up to support the type of harsh crackdown that could send things spinning out of control.

One thing that is going right when it comes for laying the groundwork for civil disobedience on Second Amendment issues is the establishment of “Second Amendment sanctuary” jurisdictions. Their sample ordinance is a good starting point for the discussion by laying out the legal argument against gun bans in particular.

But also, getting these ordinances passed at the county level can do three things: First, by putting local governments on the record against, it will put the state and federal governments on notice – especially if the county governments send copies of the ordnance to lawmakers. More than a few local officials think about higher office – and a lawmaker receiving a sanctuary resolution will want to keep that in mind, especially since local officials will have some campaign infrastructure already set up.

Second, such ordinances will also create manpower problems for the enforcement of anti-Second Amendment legislation. Take Virginia, for example. The Virginia State Police has 2,118 sworn personnel. They have to cover 95 counties and 38 independent cities. Now if they cannot count on local law enforcement to help enforce a gun ban, actually taking guns becomes harder without the local knowledge.

Also, it complicates a call-up of the National Guard. That officer Ralph Northam may count on to lead a platoon of infantry or military police to augment the state police for confiscation may well be the author of a sanctuary ordinance. He could not only declare that we wouldn’t follow an illegal order, he’d explain to his men why it is illegal.

Third, and most importantly, they not only draw a red line as to where the consent of the governed would end, and why it would end, they also provide a path to resolve the situation without resorting to more drastic measures. All they have to do is repeal the unjust laws. That said, the alternative is for the consent of the governed to be withdrawn. In 1776, that led to the Revolutionary War. In 1861, it led to the Civil War. No rational or sane person wants to see a third such instance in this country’s history.

The one thing missing from these ordinances is the fact that they do not explicitly point out that Ralph Northam, Andrew Cuomo, and Michael Bloomberg (just to name a few people) are seeking to punish millions of people for crimes and acts of madness that they did not commit. Americans feel a sense of revulsion at the thought of people being wrongly punished. If anti-Second Amendment extremists like Bloomberg and Northam can successfully be painted as people who do that, civil disobedience will have a much better chance of succeeding.

Make no mistake, civil disobedience is a grave step to take.

It is one step short of completely revoking the consent of the governed – with the dire consequences of such a revocation. Should this step become necessary, Second Amendment supporters have the obligation to work as hard as they can to effect change through peaceful measures.


Harold Hu, chison

About Harold Hutchison

Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.

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warhorse_03826

“Yet despite the cost, these unconstitutional laws MUST be resisted. For if not now, when? And if not us, who? This is no longer a “slippery slope” leading to firearm registration and eventual confiscation — it is a precipice that some states have already plunged over and that the federal government threatens to follow. Arrests are happening NOW. When, if not now, shall we resist? Will we allow ourselves to be shoved back once again, from the free exercise of our God-given, natural and inalienable rights to liberty? — Shoved back once more, muttering but compliant? THAT IS HOW WE… Read more »

StreetSweeper

Well it may begin in Virginia with what is going on there with governor blackface and his confiscation plans; those folks will put up a fight. Might as well pick up where CW 1 left off. One thing for sure, country boys will survive.

Dave in Fairfax

StreetSweeper, It may, we shall see. I’m still saving my Dixie Cups in case of another Great Unpleasantness.

chiefton

The insanity of these anti-gun laws is no different than banning cars from the law-abiding because drunk drivers kill people with their cars. Guns, like cars, are inanimate objects that harm no one unless an irresponsible operator miss uses it. Will we ban planes because terrorists used them to kill thousands? How about doctors who have caused deaths through negligence? The list can go on and on….

option31

Ultimately all these laws are easy to defeat. WE must know our rights and duties as a jury member, WE must educate family, friends and people here and everywhere what their rights and duties are as jury members. You have not only the right but the DUTY to acquit people charged with breaking unjust laws. fija.org has everything you need to know. The concept of jury nullification predates the founding of the U.S. Our jury system is based on the case of Peter Zenger. Recently here in Nebraska a woman and son were arrested for selling CBD oil, they were… Read more »

Wild Bill

@Option, All true, but the weakness is How do you go about getting yourself on a jury, and particularly a jury where unconstitutional gun statutes are involved?

JoeUSooner

“No rational or sane person wants to see a third such instance in this country’s history.”?? Horse manure! Sane, rational individuals understand that there will likely be NO other alternative (except to become vassals/slaves/subjects of the government… and THAT is what no “rational/sane” person actually wants!!) Wake up, Harold!

TexDad

You consistently miss the mark again and again by asking RKBA supporters to soften their position, Harold. Please go away.

JPM

Basically Harold is calling for Politically Correct Civil Disobedience. I think the 2nd Amendment Sanctuary movement is outstanding and hope it spreads nationwide and if necessary, becomes very pro-active, especially when it comes to stopping State and Federal officials from enforcing anti-Constitutional laws. However, offending the left is inevitable no matter what you do and if Civil Disobedience fails there is only one recourse left, which I’m sure Harold wants to avoid at ANY cost in order not to offend, including giving up his guns.

loveaduck

You assume more than he said. Ask him directly if he’s willing to give up his 2A rights.

TheRevelator

@lovaduck
No, you are assuming Harold doesn’t have other motives. The rest of us are very familiar with him, and remember all the times he has tried to argue the need for gun owners to go along with the infringements against the 2nd amendment they want to pass.

It’s your choice, you can go back a year and read his articles since then or not, but Harold is no ally to the second amendment, and your opinion of him does not change his history.

Knute

I’ll tell you how to effectively respond, but I doubt you will agree, or even listen. A few thousand men, armed with the rifles being legislated upon, show up around the Capital the day the vote is held. They do nothing illegal, just be there, present, witnesses to their government’s crimes. I predict that in that situation, the vote will not be held, simply because the ones in the building will be too frightened of those outside to commit yet more treason. OFC, the vote will be postponed, but it shouldn’t be a big job for any organization in Richmond… Read more »

Ansel Hazen

Because Harold is a shill for the NRA and doesn’t really want us to solve things without Wayne’s omnipotent guidance.

Do the math everyone. III% of this countries population is nearly 10 million Hansobs.

Laddyboy

@Knute Knute; Most of your comment is GOOD. You are mistaken when you stated “no arrests were made.” MANY people faced jail time. Some of the people arrested under “political charges” and were not allowed to speak with their LAWYERS until the last minute. Some of these people were jailed in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT till their lawyers started THREATENING LEGAL ACTION against the FEDS.

AnotherLEO

Authorities in DC have violated LEOSA COUNTLESS times. Consider that.. Officers in DC arresting Officers from other jurisdictions in total disregard of FEDERAL LAW regarding off duty carry for current and retired LE.

donfranko

Then those LEOSA approved Retired officers need to file civil suits and bankrupt the DC police budget and the city of DC.

Knute

And all the way on up to revenge killings in Oregon long after the fact. I was thinking of the actual time of the final altercation over the cattle gate. I wasn’t counting any of the events before or after. I separate them into many different criminal acts over a long period of usurpations.
Excellent addition to the discussion, BTW.

AnotherLEO

Read up on gun laws in DC.. anyone shows up with a rifle and it will be war. DC has arrested COUNTLESS out of state POLICE OFFICERS for carrying their personal weapons while in DC. Laws in DC allow for authorities to pick and choose what knives are and arent allowed with no uniformity…

Knute

But, the Capital of Virginia is not in the District of Colombia, Officer.

StWayne

What I share with you is fact. You can look it up for yourself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_socialist_movement_in_the_United_States The reason DC is a gun free zone is because those in office back in the day knew all too well that they were up to no good, as they defied the Constitution in order to pad their various purses. They had to find a way to repay those donors who saw to their election victory, and salary wasn’t even close enough to see to that. Same is true today. Otherwise, without fail, these criminals disguised as politicians would be brought to justice at the… Read more »

Wild Bill

@Knute Knute, has merit. A thousand men with rifles would intimidate the DC police and the Capitol Hill police, but would it intimidate the 3rd of the 3rd Old Guard? Might delay the vote, but Congress would go to surprise voting, and bigger more well armed police forces. I dunno.

Vanns40

I would point out that Civil Disobedience is already being widely practiced in NY (against the SAFE Act), Colorado (“high capacity” mag ban) and other States with similar laws restricting freedoms. What we are now seeing is an increase from an individual practice, of this, to entire governments (towns, counties). How long before the Federal Government does something so egregious that an entire State takes this step?

Dave in Fairfax

Vanns, I’m thinking that a Richmond Commons crowd would have the effect of our mother loving Governor repeating the Bonus Veterans March on Washington. I guess we’d find out what percentage of the military is willing to betray their oath.

Vanns40

Dave: Sorry to be so late in this reply. I believe it was about a dozen years or so ago that the military did a survey that rocked them to their core. One of the questions was: If given a direct order to fire on American Citizens would you obey that order? To their astonishment 73% said they would refuse that order. While that’s the good news, the bad news is that 27% would obey the order. I believe, and this is just my personal opinion, with no facts to back it up other than that I am a former… Read more »

Dave in Fairfax

Vanns, No problem about the timing, we all have more to do than live on our computers.

That 27% is part of the problem I had with a friend, AF Cop, many years ago. He was telling me about how they’d been asked that and if they would seize weapons from civilians. I was “highly upset”, and said so. I couldn’t believe that he’d taken his oath and understood it so poorly. The conversation went downhill shortly after that.

BruceA

Be aware that a lot has changed in the military over these years. Under the Obama administration there were hundreds of officers who were strongly patriotic and pro-citizen, who displayed initiative and self sufficiency in combat situations who were discharged from the military. There was also an administration backed program to recruit inner-city teens into the military along with an increase in making available as a choice of punishment for gang activity to serve in the military. Many of these inner-city youth grew up hating authority and showing fealty to gang leadership. Not a internal force prone to care for… Read more »

tetejaun

The federal government attacked a church in Waco. They shot, gassed and burned alive American men, women, children and infants.
The American people sat quietly as it happened.
Do not expect anything more.
We have devolved from our Founding Fathers into quivering slaves.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

The truth is that our actual liberty teeth were pulled in 1903 with the Dick Act that created the national guard and pulled away financial support from the state militias pretty much eviscerating the first 13 words of the 2nd amendment. The only place in the whole constitution that the word Necessary is used. Without the militia it’s one man or maybe a few against the whole might of the US military and law enforcement machine. We are heading to a “War of the Flea” which is the only way tyrants with that much power can be beaten these days.… Read more »

RoyD

“The American people sat quietly as it happened.”
What must it be like to say untrue things as much as you do. It does tell us a few things; none good.
In this instance it tells me that you weren’t “involved” in public discourse at the time in question. It also says that you weren’t involved in getting your elected representatives involved; if that were possible where you were. Perhaps I shouldn’t chastise you as it’s possible that is all you have to offer. But you know, it is tiresome.

TheRevelator

@RoyD
tetejaun has been trying to instigate people since earlier this year. The cowardice he complains of is his own, the laziness he speaks of is his own, and because he cannot get people to go out in front of him so he can come along behind them he tries to shift his own faults and shame onto those who recognize him for the looney he is.

Your castigation of him was proper and did not go overboard.

Vanns40

That was ATF, primarily, and the FBI. It was also a wake up call that did not go unnoticed.

Bill

Good job, Harold. Trying to get along with people who don’t agree with you is nice. If you can’t win them over, though, there comes a time to say, “No!” And, if “no” is not sufficient to stop the incursions, other demonstrations of resolve can be imperative. Part of the purpose of a republic is that no point of view may vote away the rights of another, much less vote them out of existence. Conservatives respect this principle. Liberals and leftists respect no one and no point of view but their own. The official, or anyone else, that comes knocking… Read more »

Dave in Fairfax

PSA: I hear lots of talk about ammo and weapons prepping, but almost nothing about comms. Handhelds are nice for VERY limited range, but what about getting the word out? Everybody who’s a HAM raise their hands. Buehler, Buehler, Buehler, that’s what I thought. You don’t need to break the bank or be an electronics wiz to do this. Go to your local Big Box store and buy a CB radio. They run on car batteries so a loss of power doesn’t affect them. Sure they run in the car, buy two. Take one inside and go to Horror Fright… Read more »

Wild Bill

@DiF, But Dave comms must be secure. How does one do that?

Dave in Fairfax

WB, There is no such thing as a secure comm, only differing levels of insecurity. It takes serious money and technology to get any level of security that’s worth talking about. That is WAAAAY beyond most people and certainly can’t be done on the cheap. Any encryption or code can be broken. The reality is that, given the resources involved, it isn’t worth worrying about, at least at the onset of any situation. All that can be done realistically is to get the information out that something has happened and that the time to do something is NOW. That way… Read more »

Wild Bill

@DiF, Well, there are tac radio net SOPs and CEOIs that really help security of radio traffic, but it takes uniform training on a organization level to accomplish.

Dave in Fairfax

WB, I wish you weren’t making my point for me. It boils down to levels of insecurity that you can throw money and technology at, in an attempt to decrease the insecurity. It’s never secure, though, and it takes LOTS of money and technology. The idea is to make something that is usable and feasible. CB is doable for most people, burst radios, protocols etc are beyond most people. Making hi-tech equipment highly available and then keeping it out of unfriendly hands is never going to happen. We have to work with severe restraints, and that limits our level of… Read more »

Vanns40

I hate to say it but by the time it comes to us relying on these types of comms, having them secure will probably be one of the least of our concerns. (Not making light of your comment, just sayin)

Dave in Fairfax

Vanns, that’s exactly my point. Security of comms is way down the list of worries. They get used to warn, once. after that it doesn’t matter if people are awake. If they aren’t, prolly won’t matter anyway.

Wild Bill

@DiF, Hmmm, when you wrote, “I hear lots of talk about ammo and weapons prepping, but almost nothing about comms.” , I thought that you were saying that comms are important. I guess that I misunderstood.

Dave in Fairfax

WB, Comms are important since there is little to no command and control. SECURE comms are less important and ultimately undoable. That was the point that I was trying to make. A hidden transmitter is useful and unless door-to-door searches are done fairly safe. Sure, the messages can be intercepted, but if the messages consist of enemy movement, the only loss is that the enemy is aware that you know where they are. If they don’t know who sent the message, who cares if they know.

Wild Bill

@DiF, Well, that is one scenario. Secure comms are the tool of the Command element. Can’t control the maneuver elements and progress of battle without secure comms.
Secure communications are do able, but training and a CEOI are necessary.

Dave in Fairfax

WB, I agree that secure comms in a battlefield situation are essential, no question about that. What I was looking at is the beginning of the situation. If/when seizure begins it is imperative that people know about it before their door gets kicked in. That was why I said that the 1st person could sound the alarm so that the others were prepared and able to respond in an appropriate manner. In the 1st instance, getting the word out is critical, whether both sides hear it or not is less important. My PSA was about how to set up a… Read more »

Wild Bill

@DiF, I’m putting all my bets on Ammoland to keep me informed! 😉

Dave in Fairfax

WB, Glad to hear it. I was kinda thinking that I’d hijacked the thread.

Dave in Fairfax

Will, That’s great in theory. Tell me how to go about that, and make them highly available so that everybody can afford them, and they don’t fall into enemy hands. That’s the problem.

Wild Bill

@wjd, Yes, without secure comms even a small battle would be impossible to direct.

Will Flatt

Once again Harold shows his cowardice by casting civil disobedience as a “dangerous slope” where we may slide into civil war. Harold’s thinking is steeped in the poison of “peace at any cost”, even if that cost is slavery. We MUST resist, and if that resistance is met with unlawful, tyrannical force then we have to increase that resistance until the tyrants and their jack-booted thugs capitulate. If it means war, then so be it. This is why we have a 2nd Amendment, to FORCE the government back into the shoebox when it becomes too big and oppressive. Harold the… Read more »

Wild Bill

@WF, Young Harold simply does not understand that those people that he would “be reasonable” with see our best attributes and good natures as weaknesses, and would use them against us.

Will Flatt

Harold is more than just a naïve fool. He’s willfully ignorant, he disregards glaring facts, and keeps peddling a RINO fake-conservative narrative that is destructive to the liberty agenda. He’s worse than a Neville Chamberlain appeaser, he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing selling a bad bill of goods!! Basically an enemy within!

Will Flatt

Exactamundo. We have foreign terrorists in all 50 states, mainly the “lower 48”. Whether they be jihadis or narcos, they are all here illegally and their business is terrorism 24/7. What America needs is a good flush, and cleanse us of these foreign enemies and the domestic leftist ones too.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

OK

TheRevelator

@Oldvet I still read it, for the simple fact that I want to go through it word by word and find where he is either being a hypocrite, or a tool of the left. It’s also why you wont ever see a coward like Harold Hutchison be willing to debate someone like you or I. His target are the weak minded idiots, who as long as nobody comments or points out where, why, and how Harold is wrong they will think his folly passes for intelligence. The only thing needed for evil to flourish is for good men to stand… Read more »

Knute

Well stated, Revelator.

JIAZ

“I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.”
Thomas Jefferson

Wild Bill

The key to pouring the kool aid out onto the ground is taking back the school boards. Run for school board and restore the republic.

TheRevelator

It would appear that Harold is on another one of his apologetics tours. Multiple articles over two days complaining of those who have more fortitude than he…. Newsflash, Prince Harold Humperdink is never going to find a set of testicles to call his own. While he is concerned about “But you might be risking a record if you oppose those criminal laws…” He has forgotten the history of what is supposed to be his country. Our founding fathers pledged “Their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor” when they stood up against tyranny. Some lost their lives, many more lost… Read more »

loveaduck

One size or one type of citizen does not the US of A make. He’s writing what he believes is the most sensible way of moving against the antis. Simply jumping up and down over wanting to do more “right now” helps nothing. I spent 20 years in uniform and am a gun owner and a patriot. But I am not frothing at the mouth and I agree with Harold on this. If you feel the need to attack me, do it, but not with the same vitriol used in your comment. (if you can) There is no need to… Read more »

TheRevelator

@loveaduck You have a choice here, read through this and take it for what it is or answer accordingly, or publically announce it not worth your time if you want to show everyone here you are afraid of what I am about to write. Have no fear, the “vitriol” as you put it is reserved for those who deserve it and you have not met the requirements yet. Harold has been writing about placating and giving into the Anti’s for well over a year and a half, we know who and what he is, and it has nothing to do… Read more »

TheRevelator

Update: Still waiting in case @loveaduck wishes for a chance to respond if he so chooses. For any coming here late, please refrain from attacking him over this post of his here. We shall measure him by his actions, if he chooses to continue this elsewhere on this site, or further intentionally bear false witness against second amendment supporters who are NOT preaching violence, but instead who are demanding we be left alone and that we will not comply, then we shall know what kind of individual he is. Until then, perhaps he was simply misinformed and operating on bad… Read more »

Baldwin

M2AGA! (Make the 2nd Amendment Great Again!)

tetejaun

The above article reeks of cowardice and ignorance of history. George Washington did not TALK the Tyrant George III into submission. He shot the kings representatives and soldiers at every chance. During the GW Bush administration, the Second Amendment Foundation petitioned the government for redress of grievance per the First Amendment. The Bush Administration simply ignored the petition. The American people sat quietly and did nothing. Again, the tyrant was placated and absolute power over the people affirmed. Freedom will only take blood as payment. You fight tyranny with guns, not words. The American people are too comfortable, too fat,… Read more »

Darren

There would be no need for civil disobedience if the govt didn’t have the standing forces with which to enforce its tyranny. After all, you can’t call up the militia to disarm the militia. “The powers of the sword are in the hands of the yeomanry of America from sixteen to sixty. The militia of these free commonwealths, entitled and accustomed to their arms, when compared with any possible army, must be tremendous and irresistible. Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress… Read more »

Darren

How about you guys giving me a thumbs down try explaining where you think I got it wrong

Dave in Fairfax

Darren, Just a couple of points. There is no way to know WHO is doing the down-voting, so consider that it may well be done by trolls. Then remember that voting up or down has no effect on YOU. All it does it keep a tally of how active a thread is. That’s why I don’t pay any attention to whether I get up or down votes, or any at all. It literally makes no difference. It ain’t personal, it’s barely business.

donfranko

I’m confused by a lot of the comments herein. This young man is trying to give sensible, reasonable, and honest advice. He is NOT saying that we should roll over and surrender. He’s simply pointing out the hazards and importance of taking actions leading to Civil Disobedience, and what the end result may lead to. Yes, we are all willing to do what it takes to uphold our 2A rights, and other God given rights, including the use of disobeying unjust laws which may lead to arrest and incarceration, and if need be, actually fighting for our and our children’s… Read more »

tetejaun

You have the Second Amendment to FIGHT tyrants.
Cowardice makes word play much easier. Since 1904 Americans kneel, repeatedly, to the tyrant, government.
You should read the Federalist Papers.
Slaves are ruled. They talk and kneel.
Free men fight for freedom.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Interesting you should say 1904. Right after the MILITIAS were disbanded in favor of a STANDING ARMY in direct violation of the Constitution.

Wild Bill

@donfranko, To many, including Harold, reasonable means compromise, and compromise means giving up something to get something. What part of our God given rights would you give up, and what do you think that you would get in return.
Would you accept glass beads for Manhattan?

TheRevelator

@donfranko If you think he is not saying “Roll over and surrender”, you need only look back at his articles from the last 18 months. That is exactly his M.O. If you take the time, you might notice his predication towards certain catch phrases, most notably his cry for “Tactics and Strategy” as he explains why gun owners must accept losses to the left on Gun Control. There is NOTHING sensible, reasonable, or honest about that kind of advice just as there is nothing strategic or tactical about handing your firearm to a burglar’s partner while the two of you… Read more »

GunMonkey

Very good article. Thanks.