It’s been reported of late that police forces in the United States don’t have access to the amount of ammunition they require due to the training of troops and the ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Interestingly, it seems that turning to the American people themselves might be a solution to their woes – that is, if they all have ammunition for their guns.
According to the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies, there are 90 guns for every 100 citizens in the United States, meaning that of the world’s 875 million known firearms, US citizens own some 270 million of them. Of the 8 million weapons manufactured worldwide on a yearly basis, 4.5 million of them are purchased in the United States.
Now, it should be made clear that these constitute ‘civilian firearms’, not weapons purchased or used by the military. In short, if the people of the United States got it in their heads to turn on their own government, they’d have more than a fighting chance. In fact, and not including advanced weaponry, they’d have an advantage in firepower.
Now where’s that revolutionary spirit gone?
Quick, somebody put on some Ween.
In other clusterfuckage around the world, which means that the information I am about present entirely revolves around Iraq, The UNHCR is reporting…
“More than four million Iraqis have fled their homes because of sectarian violence, the largest population movement in the Middle East since Palestinians left the new state of Israel, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.
“An estimated 4.2 million Iraqis have been uprooted from their homes, with the monthly rate of displacement climbing to over 60,000 people compared to 50,000 previously,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokeswoman Jennifer Pagonis told journalists.
More than two million Iraqis are displaced within their own country, with around half being uprooted following the February 2006 Samarra bombings, seen as the catalyst for the latest wave of sectarian conflict, the UNHCR said.
“Many are barely surviving in makeshift camps, inaccessible to aid workers for security reasons,” Pagonis warned.”
How do you know when something is a bad idea? When it makes the regime of Saddam Hussein look like an acceptable alternative.
Speaking of millions of people. One million Shi’ites were evacuated today from a shrine in Karbala after clashes between rival Shi’ite militias broke out resulting in 50 deaths and the burning of three hotels.
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that is a very funny (meaning in this post ‘ironic’) notion (revolution!!!) especially since the only reason they are allowed to carry such weapons is because it’s a constitutional right…also kinda ironic, and possibly scary for the would be victims of this ‘revolution’ would be the fact that these are not ALL handguns…there are guys in the States who use AK47s to hunt deer.
on the 4 million Iraqis:
I wonder if the massive relocation of all these Iraqis could cause conflict with outer countries like Syria, Jordan, etc should their citizens get upset at refugees for any increased conflict or some inability to coexist.
I hope not.
and on a much brighter note: I know exactly where the term ‘clusterfucks’ comes from….oh god…
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Clusterfuckage…good one…
oh…by the looks of the red line under the word it’d appear the computer doesn’t officially recognize this term…
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Clusterfuckage… that’s the best new word I’ve heard since truthiness.
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Where is ween when you need them?
http://artifact7.blogspot.com/
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Living in the southern United States, the majority of gun-owners (at least the ones I’ve known about) are proud, Bush-loving, flag-waving Americans. If the opportunity arose to actually combat our own government, they’d probably be the first to join the military ranks rather than go up against them.
Even if we did have the advantage in firepower, there’s no accounting for allegiance.
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i feel like the americans who own these weapons are staring at them in their hands with the tv on not knowing what to do with them but shoot out the next commercial that pisses them off. Most people feel more powerful and secure when buying said weapons, yet when you don’t know how to implement your own democratic powers, how is buying a gun going to suffice? I mean, I’m sure they’re just preparing on the war on terror that is coming with the dawn, but that equation of how many millions of trigger happy jacks, and a government that’s done nothing but lie and decieve them is, to me, not a good outcome.
Though I’m sure by the time that these weapons get to be used they won’t know who the enemy is anymore, and return them to their shoeboxes in their closets for their confused children to find one day when their parents aren’t home. But I digress.
Speaking of pissed off, confused societies looking (and finding) someone to blame, maybe it’s a good thing that so many americans own these weapons considering the amount of people that have been displaced in their own homelands. Where do you think they’re gonna end up? Not borrowing a cup of sugar after moving in next door, but rightfully pissed off at a nation that’s brought nothing but more adversity to their everyday existence. Smooth, real smooth.
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Well, the 2nd Amendment was put in the Bill of Rights because the people who wrote it just came off a pretty tough fight against their former rulers. They decided that they did not trust a strong Federal Government and wanted to have at hand, the tools with which to dissuade them from excesses of all sorts. I know it is fashionable in some circles to ridicule American gun owners, but by and large we’re a pretty nice bunch of fellows. I don’t know where some of you guys get your info about Americans, but a lot of stuff I’ve read on here isn’t familiar to me. I guess when there’s like 350 million of us Americans, it’s ok to generalize. Do you actually think you can “Describe” a typical American with any accuracy? This is a great, well run site, by the way.
Oh- concerning firepower- in the villiage of Concord Mass, one of the guys actually had a rifle. At one point he was standing on a rooftop, picking off British troops at about 200 meters. All the British could do was curse, as their muskets had no accuracy beyond 10 meters or so. The civilians had more firepower than the Occupying Force from day one. There’s a lesson there, me thinks!
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Quoting paul_m:
My guess would be passed out from the remnants of the fabled “scotch-guard bong”.
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either the “scotch-guard bong” or lamenting about “where’d the cheese go?”
http://artifact7.blogspot.com/
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I do not own a gun nor would I ever. I think my country is going the completely wrong direction on the gun issue. We should look to model ourselves after Europe in terms of gun control. Having said that, not all gun lovers are slackjawed hicks just looking for something to move to blow it away. My parents live in east Texas and their house is burglarized repeatedly, as are the homes of all my relatives living in this area. Meth addicts are out of control in the south and frequently rob homes in rural areas where it takes a while for police to arrive. My father keeps a gun for what he feels is protection for himself and my mother who don’t live near anyone who could help them in any sort of home invasion. I can’t judge him for that, but I certainly don’t think I could bring myself to ever pull a trigger. In any event, having grown up in Europe but being born in the southern U.S., I try to see everyone’s perspectives.
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was it not Chris Rock that said:
“You don’t need no gun control.
You know what you need?
We need some bullet control.”
nuff said
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Matt,
I think you just put yourself on the no-fly list!
“In short, if the people of the United States got it in their heads to turn on their own government, they’d have more than a fighting chance. In fact, and not including advanced weaponry, they’d have an advantage in firepower.
Now where’s that revolutionary spirit gone?”
That’s risky to say publicly. I know about freedom of speech, but in our current world that only applies to anything not related to the US government and citizens taking up arms.
I know it was in jest, so do most of your readers, but I guarantee that was picked up by a CIA computer and they already have data mounting against you.
I don’t trust our current government, especially when sharing information with the CIA. Our government is not oblivious to covert operations, for sure CSIS has their eye on you, but the CIA is a tad more corrupt and would undoubtedly see you as a threat.
I hope your tour doesn’t turn south of the border or you are not magically boarding a plan that’s not destined for what you think.
Call me paranoid, but anyone who speaks out is singled out so one has to be careful what one says, even in jest.
We need you here (Canada) not off in some prison in Syria being tortured into admitting you were trying to start a revolution.