Hello, I just wanted to ask what us communists should think of gun rights, both under capitalism and socialism. Is it a important part of the movement today, why or why not? Tell me what you think of guns and what must happen with them?
Hello, I just wanted to ask what us communists should think of gun rights, both under capitalism and socialism. Is it a important part of the movement today, why or why not? Tell me what you think of guns and what must happen with them?
Guns are, in a way, a type of tool; albeit for defense rather than production.
Just as the proletariat should collectively control the means of production so too should the proletariat collectively control the means of defense. Gun ownership under capitalism works the same way as production ownership under capitalism: privileged private ownership, often to the exclusion of the poor & marginalized, to be weaponized against the poor & marginalized. Arms must not be viewed as personal property but as private property and ergo must be collectively owned under socialism.
Think a communal armory where access is given by the community as a whole and permitted only under specific purposes (e.g. hunting, recreational shooting, firearm safety instruction, deterrence, defense, etc.) rather than a gun in every home. This is under socialism, mind.
Under capitalism firearms must be distributed among as much of the revolutionary movement as possible. Every comrade who is able & willing to use a firearm should, ideally, have one and know how to use it.