Though spoken in jest, this anecdote rooted in context from an earlier age hints at a truth that backstops my strong opinions vis a vis civilian ownership of arms.

Recall the scene in "A Tale Of Two Cities" where a nobleman was deeply offended to have crossed swords/w a peasant. https://twitter.com/17cShyteposter/status/1386569922482827265

Though mortally wounded in the exchange, the peasant derived great satisfaction that the nobleman was obliged to "strike at me with all his skill," and his emotions were vindicated in the disgust of the noblemen to have been thus thwarted.

At one point in ancient Japan, it was legal for those among the samurai class to murder peasants who had offered them offense. Yet, they were only allowed one strike, and if they were slain in turn by a vengeful peasant who somehow managed to turn the tables, it was legal.

Legal prohibitions on weapons ownership in ancient Japan (and China) is the origin of many now-famous martial arts weapons, such as nunchucks - which are mere threshing tools.

Farmers and peasants had to learn to use what they had to defend themselves.

Nowhere is this more apparent than with the Okinawan "Eku".

It takes a very, very, VERY angry man to look at something unbalanced as an oar and say "yes, I can make this work." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eku 

The legend of Miyamoto Musashi - the swordsman so skilled he literally beat opponents to death with wooden swords - includes an incident where he supposedly whittled a bokken (wooden practice sword) out of an oar while being rowed to an island for a duel, and won it with such.

The studious student of history has uncovered a more blunt tale. His opponent for that duel preferred to use a no-dachi (long-sword) in half-sword style. He would focus on getting in an early wounding hit, then use the long blade to hold his foe at range for HOURS.

Once his opponent had bled out a bit and weakened, only then would this so-called sword master close in for the kill.

One can imagine how Miyamoto fucking Musashi felt about this man.

He considered him a fucking tool.

Now, when it comes to swordplay, it is commonly not understood by modern peoples that a single strike; a single penetration of only 1 inch to the right crucial muscle group, can effectively end the fight.

This is how quickly sword duels can move.

Against single opponents, Miyamoto Musashi LITERALLY BEAT THEM TO DEATH WITH FUCKING WOODEN PRACTICE SWORDS.

That required delivering dozens upon dozens of heavy body blows, when even one quick thrust with a steel one would end the fight.

He was effectively superhuman.

So for Miyamoto mother-fucking Musashi to showcase his contempt, he had to step up his game.

The version of the story - the older version of the story one has to dig for - has Musashi rowing HIMSELF to the islet for the duel. Late. Very late. And as his insulted opponent charges

- Musashi simply picks up the oar and beats that mother-fucking tool to death with it.

That, is the true legend of Musashi. To win with wooden swords already made him superhuman. To win a duel with a fucking OAR was his only way of topping himself.

... and then you have Okinawans.

Who didn't simply use oars as weapons, but normalized the practice.

Comprehend that. Internalize it. Try to come to grips with that level of sheer, absolute psychotic hatred.

It's no shock that the Marines are based on Okinawa, considering.

This is why the Founders stoutly defended the right for civilians to keep and bear arms. This is why Karl fucking Marx did the same. For both understood that failure to do so produces places like Okinawa and Poland, and it is best if we are not obliged to brave those extremes.