Global Second Amendment?

US firearms enthusiasts are blasting away again at UN attempt to limit trade in illegal small arms. (“UN conference takes aim at illicit small-arms trade”, Washington Times 6-27-06) Both are wasting their time and putting all their guns into one basket.

First, guns don’t kill people. Diseases do. Only 100 million people were killed in all the wars revolutions and murders over the last 100 years (many undoubtedly by small arms. Few were illegal). During the same time period Governments with legal small arms killed over 160 million of their own (mainly unarmed) citizens. During only 70 of those 100 years, smallpox alone killed over 300 million (more than wars and genocidal governments combined).

Weaponized smallpox, a product of the former Soviet Union, would probably kill over a billion people in less than a single year. Imagine the killing capacity of new biotechnological equipment that can create viruses capable of targeting genetic profiles.
This will bring a whole new killing capacity to genocidal governments or angry ethnic groups. (think Palestinians designing an Jew bug…or Jewish extremists designing a camel pox). If you think this is far fetched read the Bi-partisan Presidential Commission on National Security in the 21st Century (also known as the Hart-Ruddman Commission) This is the same Commission that 6 months prior to 9-11 warned that Americans should prepare to die in large numbers on American soil from terrorism.

And biological weapons and their production facilities are very hard (Iraq WMD) and sometimes impossible (US post 9-11 anthrax) to find.

But life is fragile and there are many other creative ways to murder. Hitler was no slouch at mass murder but even his gas chambers were inefficient compared to Hutu clubs and machetes in Rwanda in 1994. Nearly a million people were hacked or beaten to death in less than 6 months.
Don’t forget what a few clever Saudi’s did with razor blades and air line tickets.

Outlaw small arms? OK. If you got nothing better to do.

Thomas Jefferson once said “Democracy is two wolves and lamb deciding what to have for lunch. Freedom is a well armed lamb protesting the vote.”
Our democracy is showing many signs of too many corporate and congressional free lunches. Perhaps its time liberals found more value and respect for the second Amendment. (Note to any CIA cyber surveillance teams…I own no firearms and don’t plan to buy any. I do however have access to biosecurity lab -- our bathroom hasn’t been cleaned for a week…I’m hoping you will send a team to investigate what’s growing around the toilet.)

Here’s an idea. Try creating laws and a world where people don’t get angry enough to commit mass murder. And those who talk about it…in the form of genocide (Iranian President), nuclear attack (North Korean President) or preemptive war (American President) are hauled before a global tribunal…and spanked.

The really bad news for disarmament folks is the fact that disarmament is impossible…given the dual use nature of all technology. Fuel oil and fertilizer could make a nuclear sized bomb. Botulism, the most deadliest substance known to man (5 times more lethal than VX gas…or most lethal creation) is hard NOT to make.

Do the freakin math….Weapons don’t kill people. Murder’s and Presidents do. Hold your fire…and, then hold them accountable.