Exactly. Many scoff at the Second Amendment because they misunderstand it as some kind of license for self-righteous vigilantes. And to be sure, there are some who think of themselves as those very vigilantes. But that’s not what it’s about. Individuals or small groups of vigilantes going off half-cocked and trying to use the Second Amendment as justification would quickly and rightfully be arrested. But that doesn’t mean that the Second doesn’t retain its relevance.
Its proper place is as the charter for a well-armed citizenry that backs up a civilized and orderly opposition to tyranny. And that opposition must be led by true statesmen who first seek to repel tyranny without conflict, and who use force first and foremost as a deterrent, but who will nonetheless not shy away from force if it is the only way to reclaim our Constitutional Republic from the tyrants. While pre-dating the Constitution, the American colonists didn’t lash out individually at the British, but instead were led by truly great and brave statesmen of the time. These men tried first to air their grievances to the king, and wanted to reach a peaceful resolution of those grievances while remaining British citizens. But when it became apparent that this was impossible, they formally declared the impossibility of continued coexistence, the reasons for that impossibility, and declared their independence from the tyrant. They knew this would bring war, not because it was their choice but because they knew the tyrant would force it upon them, and they prepared accordingly.
That is still the general model that should be followed today, and we are clearly in no less a dire situation as were the colonists. In fact, today’s depraved tyranny is far worse; it’s just that our relative prosperity and the distractions it brings keep many oblivious to how bad things truly are.
I agree with that 100%