A Brief History of Weapons

      Weapons are as old as the human race.  History doesn't
record the first time one human hurled a rock at another. 
Perhaps the first weapon was a club or a stone blade.

     Human history could be viewed as an arms race.  The
story so far is rocks to lasers.  So long as human minds remain
sharp, the race won't end.  If there is an ultimate weapon that
can't be beaten, we are far from discovering it.

     Early weapons relied on muscle power.  Strength was all
important.  Skill made a great difference.  When two men with
swords faced each other in combat, strength and skill dominated. 
Giving a weak untrained man a sword doesn't come close to
making him the equal of a strong, skilled swordsman.

      A few weeks' training for the novice wouldn't make
much difference.  A sword wasn't much of an equalizer.

     Then came firearms.  Firearms made a difference because
they were different.  Firearms were the first common and simple
weapon that harnessed the power of nature.  A 90 pound woman
had the strength to hold a gun and pull the trigger as effectively
as a 200 pound man.  The little woman might even be better at
it than the big man.  Is it any wonder that guns came to be
called equalizers?

     Skilled swordsman didn't welcome this development. 
Even the strongest, most skilled swordsman was most likely to
lose if he brought his sword to a gun fight.  If he traded his
sword for a gun he still lost the great advantage he held when
sword went up against sword.

     Those who seek to harm others generally aren't looking
for a fair fight.  They want every advantage they can gain.  They
are likely to have second thoughts about the joys of violence
when they may be on the receiving end.  They live by the
principle that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

     Government is based on force and intimidation.   The
essence of government is "Do it my way, or I will hurt you."  It
is natural that throughout history governments have tried to gain
a monopoly on weapons.  This was much easier to do when
trained mussel men could dominate untrained citizens, even if
the citizens had equal weapons.  Thus, the Japanese government
gained a monopoly on swords.

     Effective weapons in the hands of the citizens are always
a threat to those who would exploit the citizens.  Guns are only
equalizers.  They don't guarantee advantage.  Those who want to
use violence prefer to use only the threat of violence.  This is
much safer for the one making the threats.  The mere fact that
one is armed reduces the chances he will be attacked.  This
principle applies whether the threats come from government or
common criminals.

     When arms are common, everyone is less likely to be
attacked.  The anti gun zealot is safer from home invasion where
it is known that many homeowners are armed.  The burglar
doesn't know which homeowners are armed.  Of course, the anti
gun zealot can eliminate that protection by putting up a sign
"Gun free home."

     In the USA where guns are common 15 percent or so of
break ins are into occupied buildings.  In England legal guns
have been all but eliminated.  Those who shoot intruders are
prosecuted and jailed.  Over 50 percent of break ins are into
occupied buildings.  Those who want to eliminate guns should
chew on that for a while.

     So, why do so many want to eliminate the guns that
make them safer?  It is partly because of ignorance about the
benefits from gun ownership.  It goes far beyond ignorance. 
Many people are infected with gunaphobia.  They have an
unreasoned, illogical fear of guns.

     Such people are unlikely to ever change.  We must not
let them win.  There is no good reason why we must all suffer
in insecurity because of the mental problems of the gunaphobs. 
We don't ban water because some fear it.

aldmccallum@gmail.com
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Copyright 2013
Albert D. McCallum
18440 29-1/2 Mile Road
Springport, Michigan 49284