"Eye on Conservatism"

September 11, 2001

Britain: Home of the Slave
by Robert Yoho

In a recent issue of USA Today, there was an article detailing the increase of violent crime in Great Britain. The country from which we took up arms to gain our independence banned the private ownership of all handguns in 1997. Since then, they have seen a 40% rise in the violent use of handguns. Surprise! Surprise!

Any law-abiding gun owner could have told them the eventual outcome of their hysteric and shortsighted action. Perhaps they could have learned the same thing from any member of the National Rifle Association. Moreover, they could have gained this same wisdom from the bumper sticker: "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."

It sounds like a cliché, but it is nonetheless a fact. You cannot stop the criminal acts of the lawless by removing the guns from the hands of the law-abiding.

In case you have forgotten your history, the "shot heard round the world" was fired over the issue of gun control. The Redcoats were marching to Concord to seize the colonists’ supply of powder and arms. The Minute Men on Concord Bridge were the only thing standing between our freedom and continued servitude at the hands of our British taskmasters. Unfortunately it didn’t end with the American Revolution.

England is no longer satisfied with the disarmament of their own citizens. They are working hand-in-hand with the Lilliputian despots in the United Nations to ban the private ownership of firearms worldwide. And most of their shots are targeted at the United States of America.

The country from which we gained our independence is hell-bent on trying to disarm us. I find it tragic that a once-great nation--a place formerly ruled by the indomitable spirit of Sir Winston Churchill--has become the home of the slave. Oh, to find that remarkable courage in Britain once more!

In a speech before the House of Commons, Churchill gave a most uncommon speech in the defense of liberty:

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!"

A nation that defiantly refused to give in to the power of the Third Reich has willingly surrendered to the pacifism of the Third Way. Great Britain was once a loyal ally in our battle against Hitler’s oppression in Europe. But even our assistance in two world wars is not enough to win our freedom from Socialistic crumpet crunchers and Bill Clinton wantabes like Prime Minister Tony Blair (shown, right).

Britain fears that their county will become a culture of guns. However, their country owes its freedom to a place whose culture and heritage is steeped in the private ownership of firearms.

A poor child coming of age in the mountains of Tennessee, Alvin York learned to shoot a gun while hunting for squirrels and other game. He then used those same shooting skills in World War I to kill German adversaries in Europe. The son of poor Texas sharecroppers, Audie Murphy learned to use a rifle while shooting jackrabbits. While fighting the Second World War in Europe, Murphy climbed atop a flaming tank and employed those qualities of marksmanship to save the lives of his men.

For these selfless acts of courage and heroism, Alvin York and Audie Murphy would receive the Medal of Honor from a grateful nation.

Not everyone who learned to use a gun in America went on to receive the Medal of Honor for his service in two World Wars. However, the nation of Great Britain and much of Europe owes their freedom to the skills of squirrel and rabbit hunters and many others who simply valued the inalienable right of citizens to take up arms in defense of their own life and liberty. These so-called small arms in the hands of our farmers and mountain men served England well. Later, the Marshall Plan rebuilt a battle-scarred Europe and they reward our generosity by once again trying to seize our powder and arms.

Gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson, then owned by a British concern, made a sweetheart deal with the Clinton administration that betrayed every legitimate firearms’ manufacturer in America. It seems as though the nation of England is never satisfied with their defeat at the hands of mere "peasants." I am proud to report that the peasants once again rebelled against the British-owned Smith & Wesson, nearly sending them into insolvency and forcing their sale to genuine American patriots who respect the Second Amendment.

Churchill would be shocked by what his beloved nation has become since his death. England can no longer be called "Great" Britain. The spirit of Dunkirk is gone. The courage of Winston Churchill has given way to the capitulation of Neville Chamberlain. Their once iron will is now tarnished.

Britain's citizens have been disarmed and packs of marauding animals rule their streets. A nation that once had the resolve to face down Adolph Hitler is now powerless to defend itself against teenagers. Its growing culture of violence can only be countered by a culture of private gun ownership.

Perhaps Britain, the home of the slave, can enlist the aid of the United Nations. ***

© 2001 Robert Yoho

· Photo of Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family courtesy of Reuters