God help us from those who believe that they are the sole possessors of truth. How we manage at times to agree willingly to become prisoners within our own minds and souls of beliefs and ideas on which we can never be flexible.

If indeed a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors would it not make sense for the government to arm all criminals and let them accidentally shoot themselves? Is this absurd? Yes and yet the government of course is arming criminals.

The three great ends which a statesman ought to propose to himself in the government of a nation are one Security to possessors two facility to acquirers and three hope to all.