Meanwhile, on another planet...

This story from South Africa serves to remind those of us in the US of how many places in the rest of the world are so like another planet. The story tells of how little success authorities have had in convincing the people of the northern province of Limpopo to hand in their firearms. South Africa, like most Commonwealth nations, is actively disarming its citizens. Only 43 guns have been turned in in Limpopo. Nationwide, only 12,000 firearms have been surrendered in compliance with the new Firearms Control Act.

It's truly odd that any should be turned in. South Africa's dark days of aparteid aren't exactly ancient history. Surely there must be a few people who remember what life was like when the government held a monopoly on military power. But consider this quote from Nantie Tsothma of the Transvaal Agricultural Union: "We encourage all farmers to hand in the unlicensed firearms because unlicensed firearms are an attack on our freedom,".

Of course, it is the licensed firearm that is a threat to freedom. A thing that is licensed is held at the pleasure of the government. If your means of self defense is licensed, then your right of self defense, a basic human right, is also licensed. Self defense is thus turned from a right to a privilege; a privilege that can be revoked by a bureaucrat's whim.