[Sherman Logan]

One of the more idiotic ideas I’ve seen recently.

Letters of marque essentially legalized piracy against the State’s enemies. The privateer made a profit by plundering the merchant shipping of the enemy.

Last I heard, Somali pirates don’t have much in the way of a merchant shipping trade. The only prizes in the area are the same ships the Somalis are preying on.

A merchant vessel doesn’t need a letter of marque to defend itself against attack. Just some balls and a couple 50 caliber machine guns.

[Jacquerie]

Letters of marque essentially legalized piracy against the State’s enemies.

Correct. That is the goal.

A merchant vessel doesn’t need a letter of marque to defend itself against attack.

No, but it cannot hurt if a turd world court decides to press charges of piracy against the merchant vessel for wasting harmless, hardworking, "fishermen."