cazador1022
Active Member
Crimea and the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment
Why Ukraine should have understood the premise of the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment
As many of us have watched or heard of the recent developments in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea by Russia, I could not help but to think how this situation on a smaller scale speaks to the core of why I believe in the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment. Before going on, I would like to state that if Crimea voted to become part of Russia, that is for them to decide. I am not discussing the merits of the election or ethnic historical lineage that joins these geographic areas. That is irrelevant to the point I will illustrate.
When I saw the whole drama unfold I immediately saw a connection, between the interaction of these two countries and the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Amendment. First of all, the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Amendment is not about hunting. It’s about power, who has it, and how to keep the big bully off of you by equalizing that disparity of power with firepower. How this ties in with Ukraine will become apparent in the lines that follow.
Due to the fact that many Americans know very little, and care very little about what happens in the world (unless a Kardashian is visiting that part of the world), many people forget that Ukraine was a NUCLEAR POWER. Yes, Ukraine used to have nuclear weapons. It actually held the third largest nuclear arsenal. So, what happened? How could a nuclear armed country be bullied? At our behest, Ukraine surrendered its weapons to Russia, with the understanding implied or otherwise (government never lies so we really don’t know), that if Ukraine ever needed help WE and the international community would come to their assistance. This was part of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances which was signed in 1994 by the U.S. and Russia in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons.
And how does this tie in to 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment? Well, it is the same promise the government makes to U.S. Citizens every day. The government tells you, that you don’t have to worry about your safety and security because they will protect you should anything happen. After many years in law enforcement I can tell you this is a lie. However, we in the U.S. have the best law enforcement in the world, period. We will catch the bank robber, rapist, car jacker ect…but only after you have been raped, robbed, or beaten to death. But hey, don’t worry at least we will catch them...after the fact. At the end of the day you were still raped and robbed. At the end of the day Crimea is now Russia. Law enforcement is an after the fact function.
When Ukraine gave up its personal weapons and delegated its sovereign right to defense and security to a third party it relinquished its ability to defend itself. Hence it became an easy target for Russia. If Ukraine had kept its weapons to defend itself, Crimea with or without historical cultural lineage and ties to Russia would still be part of Ukraine today.
You see the fact is, when you delegate your responsibility to keep yourself and your family safe to a third party the way Ukraine did, you are then subject to being at the mercy of that third party. The third party then decides if and when it wants to help you or not. That decision may or may not be in your best interest. Ukraine gave Russia its weapons the same way we surrender our firearms to rely on the government for protection. Ironically the threat came from Russia and the help and defense NEVER came from the U.S. In our case the government promises to defend us but in reality it chooses when and if they assist us in time of need.
In laymen’s terms Ukraine had the means to defend itself by merely owning a defensive weapon that her enemies could respect. When was the last time a nuclear armed country was invaded or had its sovereign soil taken? For as much as we talk about the evil IRAN and North Korea, we will never touch them because they have serious weapons. The same situation happens all the time when armed citizens merely display a firearm to thwart a violent attack, or a robbery. Bullies pick the weak or unarmed to abuse them, they never pick on someone of equal footing. The second amendment gives us that equal footing against all enemies both foreign and domestic. Maybe Ukraine should have studied the precepts of the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment; maybe WE should study the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment. Your defensive firearms keep the balance of power, give them up and you are giving up your ability to defend your life, liberty and family.
You cannot un-ring a bell. All the countries of the world have realized that it is an obligation to defend themselves, since the world policeman might or might not come to your aid.
Why Ukraine should have understood the premise of the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment
As many of us have watched or heard of the recent developments in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea by Russia, I could not help but to think how this situation on a smaller scale speaks to the core of why I believe in the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment. Before going on, I would like to state that if Crimea voted to become part of Russia, that is for them to decide. I am not discussing the merits of the election or ethnic historical lineage that joins these geographic areas. That is irrelevant to the point I will illustrate.
When I saw the whole drama unfold I immediately saw a connection, between the interaction of these two countries and the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Amendment. First of all, the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Amendment is not about hunting. It’s about power, who has it, and how to keep the big bully off of you by equalizing that disparity of power with firepower. How this ties in with Ukraine will become apparent in the lines that follow.
Due to the fact that many Americans know very little, and care very little about what happens in the world (unless a Kardashian is visiting that part of the world), many people forget that Ukraine was a NUCLEAR POWER. Yes, Ukraine used to have nuclear weapons. It actually held the third largest nuclear arsenal. So, what happened? How could a nuclear armed country be bullied? At our behest, Ukraine surrendered its weapons to Russia, with the understanding implied or otherwise (government never lies so we really don’t know), that if Ukraine ever needed help WE and the international community would come to their assistance. This was part of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances which was signed in 1994 by the U.S. and Russia in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons.
And how does this tie in to 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment? Well, it is the same promise the government makes to U.S. Citizens every day. The government tells you, that you don’t have to worry about your safety and security because they will protect you should anything happen. After many years in law enforcement I can tell you this is a lie. However, we in the U.S. have the best law enforcement in the world, period. We will catch the bank robber, rapist, car jacker ect…but only after you have been raped, robbed, or beaten to death. But hey, don’t worry at least we will catch them...after the fact. At the end of the day you were still raped and robbed. At the end of the day Crimea is now Russia. Law enforcement is an after the fact function.
When Ukraine gave up its personal weapons and delegated its sovereign right to defense and security to a third party it relinquished its ability to defend itself. Hence it became an easy target for Russia. If Ukraine had kept its weapons to defend itself, Crimea with or without historical cultural lineage and ties to Russia would still be part of Ukraine today.
You see the fact is, when you delegate your responsibility to keep yourself and your family safe to a third party the way Ukraine did, you are then subject to being at the mercy of that third party. The third party then decides if and when it wants to help you or not. That decision may or may not be in your best interest. Ukraine gave Russia its weapons the same way we surrender our firearms to rely on the government for protection. Ironically the threat came from Russia and the help and defense NEVER came from the U.S. In our case the government promises to defend us but in reality it chooses when and if they assist us in time of need.
In laymen’s terms Ukraine had the means to defend itself by merely owning a defensive weapon that her enemies could respect. When was the last time a nuclear armed country was invaded or had its sovereign soil taken? For as much as we talk about the evil IRAN and North Korea, we will never touch them because they have serious weapons. The same situation happens all the time when armed citizens merely display a firearm to thwart a violent attack, or a robbery. Bullies pick the weak or unarmed to abuse them, they never pick on someone of equal footing. The second amendment gives us that equal footing against all enemies both foreign and domestic. Maybe Ukraine should have studied the precepts of the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment; maybe WE should study the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] amendment. Your defensive firearms keep the balance of power, give them up and you are giving up your ability to defend your life, liberty and family.
You cannot un-ring a bell. All the countries of the world have realized that it is an obligation to defend themselves, since the world policeman might or might not come to your aid.