The Militia is You
Larken Rose has penned another essay in his TMDS series (The Most Dangerous Superstition). He recommends that as soon as possible you buy a military pattern semi-automatic rifle with a removable magazine, and that you learn to use it. If you already have such a rifle, he recommends buying more ammunition. And he says why. Bravo!
Why am I telling you to do this? (No, I don't own stock in any gun manufacturing companies.) I'm saying this because I want you to have the ability to kill government enforcers, including both police and military. (For defense against common crooks, I wouldn't have suggested a rifle.) I know some consider it shocking to put it so bluntly, but that's exactly what the Second Amendment was made for: so the people always have the ability to kill government agents if it becomes necessary. No, I'm not telling you to go start gunning down feds, and I hope I never have to shoot anyone myself. Though it may seem counter-intuitive to some, often the ABILITY to use deadly force is what PREVENTS violence from occurring. (In most cases where a gun prevents a crime, merely displaying it is all it takes.)
While it may be shocking to some to hear me saying that I want you common folk to have the ability to forcibly resist your own "government," imagine the flip-side: Those in government saying, "We do NOT want you to have the means to resist us." If you ask me, THAT is something worth being shocked about. And if you consider yourself to be a good and responsible person, why would you NOT want to have the means to defend against tyranny? Maybe you just don't think you'd ever need that ability, but is there any reason to want to NOT have it? Aside from cowardice, is there some reason to WANT to be helpless and defenseless if things get really nasty?