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Many replies since I walked away from the keyboard but I want to respond specifically to your post 224 as I think there are two important points to make in response.

"Criminal gangs" is not a helpful term. While I understand and appreciate your points with respect to chaos and banditry and moral character in the context of the moral underpinnings of an armed insurrection, I'm not looking specifically to motorcycle clubs or street gangs or organized crime as reservoirs of shadow state officers or officials.

It is as you put it: they have a place on the strategy map, and most importantly because of that they have a vote. Where is that vote going to go? The worst of evil men will not cease being evil simply because chaotic restructuring of the social order is commanded by men of good character and conscience.

The enemy has a vote, and plans do not survive contact with the enemy. These being true principles, it is with a clear appreciation of roles and realities that we must have the basis for reformation of the State.

As another poster put it very well (I am paraphrasing) - nothing in our Constitution specifies these rights are reserved to people we like.

That said, my sincere condolences on the loss of your son and respect to the struggle you went through for acknowledgment of wrongdoing. It is bitter sometimes to drag accountability out of human beings, and to institutionally preserve lessons learned from strayed morality.

That is part and parcel of why the nation is where it is. People forget, and ingrained laziness combine with profligate wealth to create complacent cruelty and greed.

Last... while I'm speaking with a pragmatic voice, and from a perspective of real world reality (you do need the people who are willing to shoot back) I also acknowledge the grave importance of the voice you raise for moral character of the patriot.

It is difficult to balance the dream of our free Republic with the reality of men and power.

Rome was no different.