tinkerswords.com

[tinker]

We the Sheeple

'Sheeple' is a term that I see a lot on gun and 'Tactical' forums. It's a combination of the words 'Sheep' and 'People' and it is used to describe certain types of people. These people on the whole are panicky, thoughtless and prone to stampeding if they think that they are in danger. They are inclined to react irrationally to try and preserve what they perceive to be 'safety' without any regard as to whether their actions will enhance or in fact endanger their safety. They have no grasp of conditions in the real world and no sense of history. They get so worked up about issues that they are incapable of reason when it comes to thinking about those issues, but just blindly follow the crowd. We deride these people and hold them in contempt because they willingly turn their backs on the realities of modern-day life. We joke about them, we pity them; but mostly we view them with contempt.

We associate these folks with 'liberals' and 'intellectuals' and welfare and higher education. We look to find them in places like California and major western and northern cities. We expect to see them at peace rallies and protesting about pollution. But I've been seeing Sheeple in new places, places where we would never previously have expected; gun stores, sporting goods stores and shooting ranges. I have met the Sheeple... and they are us.

The week after the election shooters cleaned out the stores. There was hardly a 'black rifle' to be seen- and the few that were still around were often being sold at a premium. Reloading supplies vanished from the shelves. Ammunition in common calibers became scarce. Why? Because big bad Obama is going to take our guns! Because the scary, scary Democratic congress is going to outlaw reloading, surplus ammo, 'assault rifles,' High-capacity magazines, and probably baseball bats and Boyscout knives. Any minute now black helicopters will carry nuclear submarines loaded with UN storm troopers down your street to take your guns! They'll disregard the constitution, make American citizens disappear and the president will claim extraordinary powers that he has no constitutional right to. They'll be allowed to imprison people without demonstrating probable cause or filing charges just because they claim that person is dangerous. Just like happened last time the democrats had control of the congress! Oh wait.... none of that happened the last time the democrats controlled congress...

So we all stampede to buy guns and ammo and reloading supplies now while we still can. Presumably so that when the stormtroopers arrive we'll have plenty for them to confiscate and no money left for legal defense. Huh?! Are we maybe not thinking clearly here?

Let's review a few things here, shall we? Let's start with the fact that the Democrats were firmly in control of congress for forty years and didn't manage to take our guns away or even impose universal national registration. Yes, the GCA '68 imposed some restrictions- which in the long run have proven remarkably easy to live with. Yes, eventually after an epic battle they managed to 'outlaw' certain classes of weapons- but did so so ineffectually that there was very little practical effect. Let's not forget who signed that astonishingly stupid piece-of-crap law into effect- I think it was a fella called George Bush Sr. Whom I seem to recall was neither a democrat or a liberal. So- is it possible that maybe having a democratic congress is not in fact the first sign of the gunpocalypse?

It's not like they have anything else to distract them from their efforts to Take Our Guns. Oh let's see- two wars, the complete collapse of the banking system, the worst financial crises since the Great Depression, record unemployment, tens of millions of Americans with no access to health care, the auto industry- and all of it's supporting industries- staggering into bankruptcy etc. Nope, nothing there to distract them.

Are there, just maybe, any other factors that might make this a less than stellar time to try to take our guns? Like maybe a landmark Supreme Court decision regarding the second amendment that says it applies specifically to the right of an individual to possess arms specifically for the purpose of self-defense? Meaning that laws that ban categories of firearms because they are 'not suitable for sporting purposes' are automatically going to fail constitutional muster. Meaning that even if they get the 'Assault Rifle Ban' into committee it will die in the judiciary committee- just like the ammo-ID bill did last year in all 18 states where people tried to get it on the ballot even before that decision. Are we really just ignoring the most significant pro-gun legal victory since WW2?

I was at SHOT Show this year, where the industry gathers in their tens of thousands. Despite the fact that a Democrat had been elected president and that Democrats were firmly in control of the congress the atmosphere was not of fear, dread and defiance. It was more like barely suppressed glee. Several reps told me that Obama was the best gun salesman they'd ever had. Several suggested that the industry should come together and give him an award. NONE of them seemed seriously worried that the congress would reverse decades of historical precedent and actually enact an effective anti-gun law. All were jubilant that the gun-buying masses were stampeding into the shops and falling all over themselves to spend every penny that they could spare.

Yes, we the gun buying public. Without pausing to think, to reflect on current conditions, without considering historical precedent, without regard to recent legal decisions we PANICKED- and we're still doing it. We acted and are acting exactly like the very sort of person we despise- the unthinking drones that blindly follow the crowd. Welcome to the herd, Sheeple.

I'm not saying that they might not try something in their odd spare moments, or that we can afford to relax our vigilance. But honestly if you are worried that 'they' are going to take your AR15s what would make more sense- taking $12000 out of your savings and buying ten ARs- or donating that money to your favorite pro-gun lobbying organization? Would it be better to spend endless amounts of time sending spurious emails about conspiracies to Take Our Guns out to everyone on your email list, or would it be better to do a little research to try an establish whether or not there were honest-toGod real proposed laws pending a vote that we need to pay attention to and write to our representatives about? Oh sure, it's not as fun as crouching in the dark over our hoarded weapons and supplies and dreaming of our heroic resistance to the forces of oppression 'come The Day...' But on the other hand a little intelligent activism might prevent 'The day' from ever coming.

It's time to leave the aluminum foil beanies in the little box by the door, come out into the light of day and stop panicking and spreading panic. Pay attention, yes. Pay your pro-gun lobbying organizations, by all means. Spend a little energy and effort keeping track of things and letting the politicos know that you are keeping an eye on them by all means! And for God's sake BREAK AWAY FROM THE HERD AND THINK! Don't become the sort of mindless, unthinking crowd that you have always despised. Don't be Sheeple any more.
_________________
"Then one night as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph I had an epiphany..."

Faith is belief despite a lack of evidence. Belief despite the evidence isn't faith; it's self-delusion.

[Joseph Brassy]

Well said. I for one am far more worried about the mountain of debt that my generation and its children's children will still be paying for. But even that isn't something you can loose sleep over. When paralyzed by fear, one becomes incapable of right action. When motivated solely by fear, ones actions cannot be right.
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"I once cut down bandits from each, these thousand lands. Cut them down and got cut down, but still, but still I stand."

[Hugh Fuller]

Bravo, Tinker. I knowe people buying up ammo, reloading supplies, and firearms on the theory that the Dems and Obama will be seizing firearms. Now, someone tell me the logic of that, please.

[Morris]

Yeah, but can I induce a panic by going into debt and buying Tinker swords?

[Arik Estus]

Baaa, baaa. Well, as much as I dont trust the guv. Of any affiliation. Its not anything new to me that they would dearly love to nibble away all of our rights especialy the 2nd amendment rights to Defend ourselves against a tyranical SOCIALIST leaning guv.
They keep trying to ban anything firearms related. Pocket pistols, saturday night specials, Large capacity magazines and the so called ASSAULT RIFLE. Its all a bunch of smoke and mirrors to keep you and me looking the other way. As it stands now, the B A T F has the power to kick in your door at dawn. Drag you from your home and terrorize your family while SEARCHING for contraband guns. And they never have to pay for any damages when they leave with nothing. Meanwhile you are now on their Black list. Do I want to see an Armed rebellion? NO, emphaticly not. Would I participate if I deemed it needfull? Most likely. And it wouldnt be just the Gun Nuts.
We are being nibbled to death by ducks. Every LITTLE ruleing they pass, no matter how small, that removes any of your rights is to much. But we, SHEEPLE, sit back and look away. Well,,, wake up AMERICA. The socialist in power are trying to ban most of the freedoms our Fathers fought and bled for. They want you to be complacent and eager to accept whatever they hand you. They want you to be one of the flock. And if you go against their wants, you will be branded as a radical trouble makeing Person of interest. Im already on the list. Have been for years.
So, what will they do? Make life miserable for the rest of the country by adding more and more Social programs to force all on to the public dole.
Then they will have control and you wont have any say in it.
Gun control is being able to hit your target. New laws arent needed. Enforcement of the Good Laws on the books will help. Get rid of the stupid laws that seek to make criminals out of honest Americans.
_________________
"Do not suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberty by any pretences of politeness, delicacy or decency.
These, as they are often used, are but three names for hypocrisy, chicanery, and cowardice.” John Adams, 1789

[tinker]

Testify, Arik! Remember our 'Anti-crime' bill of 1996? Did nothing, nothing at all, but make life harder for cops without affecting anything else. STUPID law. Get rid of the stupid laws, overturn the unconstitutional laws, enforce the good ones. Works for me.
_________________
"Then one night as my car was going backwards through a cornfield at 90mph I had an epiphany..."

Faith is belief despite a lack of evidence. Belief despite the evidence isn't faith; it's self-delusion.

[Arik Estus]

I do have friends that are LEOs. Mostly Older guys in my generation. They are not pleased at all with the way things are going. Their hands are tied by liberal judges who slap the hands of felons and who then rail against the LEOs when they TRY to enforce the laws. And they are unhappy with many of the up and coming new LEOs. Mostly because they have never had the freedoms that the OLD guys had as youths.
Looking back on my 62 years I see that as a child I had it made. I could go anywhere on my bike with my friends. 10-20 miles away for an adventure in an old ghost town with a pbj sandwich and a canteen of water. No phone or commo at all. 10 miles off the main road and not a soul around but the brave adventurers with our wooden swords and .22 rifles. Now, if my grandchildren tried that I and their parents would freak out. Even with cell phones to communicate with children today are more at risk then my generation.
Without the 2nd amendment all the rest are nothing. The Liberal side of the Democratic party has long held the opinion that the STATE can protect us better then we can ourselves. I live 20-45 minutes from the fastest LEO response. If something were to happen and we were unarmed, well, they incident report would be entertaining but not at all helpfull to me or my wifes bodies. And its not the LEOS fault. They are stretched thin. To many miles to cover and to few LEOs. Someone has to cover for them short term. That would be US.
As for the Guv making me feel safe???
Well now, there is some debate about that. The PTB are trying their best to destroy the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as well as the Amendments that lay out OUR rights as citizens. They, are ubiquitous, and want to govern every aspect of our existence. 1984 is coming a bit late, but is almost upon US now.
Point of fact, I have studied the Koran. And most other major religions books and teachings. I personaly see more to fear in the Islamic movement in this country then in the ME. They are the camel and their nose is in the tent. It wont be long before non muslims are endangered
by the PC trends that are at work today. This is brought about faster if the 2nd Amendment is ever changed or done away with.
_________________
"Do not suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberty by any pretences of politeness, delicacy or decency.
These, as they are often used, are but three names for hypocrisy, chicanery, and cowardice.” John Adams, 1789