Laissez Faire Club Blog

NRA chooses fascism over liberty

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So armed guards it is, at least according to the NRA. Instead of letting school handle their own security and getting out from under the government’s central plan (see my article on this), the NRA is living up to the caricature and proposing that more weapons in anyone’s hands as the solution. The real solution is to deal more broadly with the issue of security itself.

Note that public schools do not have insurance of the normal sort. Government typically establishes an insurance fund that pays for property damage — with made-up premiums and payouts — but there is no liability for the kids or teachers there. This makes them completely unlike private establishments, and provides the biggest clue that markets and property property are not enabled to allow for the emergence of the correct solution to the problem of security.

Contrary to left and right, the solution is not more guns in the hands of the cops and other state officials, much less gun-totting teachers (or disarmed teachers and administrators, for that matter). The solution is to have schools deal with security in the same way that jewelry stores, banks, and private home owners deal with security issues.

  • Peter Manso

    The obvious flaw in this argument is that jewelry stores, banks and private homes are not, usually, the target of mass murderers. The security measures traditionally provided for these facilities are, thus, inappropriate for schools which have never been targeted by robbers.

    • Dagnytg

      Peter,

      I think you’re missing the inference.

      I believe his point is that schools should have the same opportunity to weigh risk, cost, liability etc. in determining their security measures just like other private entities — jewelry stores, banks, and private
      homeowners.

      He is not comparing security measures but the difference in the decision-making process (i.e., government vs. market).

  • Dagnytg

    Jeffrey,

    As an anarcho-libertarian, I agree with your point of view but I do not believe that the NRA’s position is about the government. I believe the NRA’s position is a political strategy to change the focus of the discussion from guns to security. In my opinion, it is the best thing I have ever seen them do. They usually make politically inept arguments in these situations.

    I think the message of guns used in the pursuit of security (especially in the context of saving the lives of children) will resonate among many people, especially men with children, regardless of their political affiliation.

  • Manifestum Atheus

    I am so glad I didn’t attend ‘Murican public schools .They have metal detectors, ID tags, and now armed guards at the door. At what point do you realize that you are living in a fascist dictatorship?

    • totenglocke

      Says a person who most likely grew up in a country with 24/7 CCTV surveillance and no legal right to self defense.

  • Paul Bartomioli

    I understand your point. Just do not see how you equate it to fascism. The error in the NRA position is calling for government to solve the issue. I also see it as a step in a process to make schools more secure.. Most “security” is a joke, from schools to TSA. It part of the government campaign to keep the masses sedated.