Insurrectionist Theory

Insurrectionist Theory is a political philosophy, mostly in the United States, that holds that "possession of firearms by individuals serves as the ultimate check on the power of the government"[1][2] and in turn have the means to retain a Right of revolution and an armed revolt of a perceived tyrannical government. This theory differs from a Right of revolution in the fact that it holds that individuals should bears arms in case of which and because of said arms it "checks" the power of the government and is therefore a predecessor to latter. This theory is often associated with the American militia movement and other anti-governmental groups.

See also: Right of revolution and Gun politics in the United States

Terminology

Followers of this political philosophy believe civilians should have almost unlimited access to weapons and keep private arms as a check against government power. Insurrectionist theory does not apply all gun owners, but rather for gun owners who arm this themselves against perceived government tyranny, and resist or overthrow them with those arms.[3]

Insurrectionist Theory can be broken into two components

  1. Individuals should keep arms and armor as a check against government tyranny[1][2][3]
  2. Individuals have a duty to Right of revolution against alleged tyranny, with said arms.

This theory differs from Right of revolution in its belief of individuals should be armed in the absence of a tyrannical government as a check against it and opposition to any government regulation of firearms.

History

John Locke

Philosopher John Locke in his Two Treatises of Government believed that governments being instituted among men for the protection of Life,Liberty and the protection of property and because of such individuals accept the Social contract. In cases that a government becomes tyrannical Locke believed that the people should revolt to regain those rights.

Locke stating this as

"whenever the Legislators endeavor to take away, and destroy the Property of the People, or to reduce them to Slavery under Arbitrary Power, they put themselves into a state of War with the People, who are thereupon absolved from any farther Obedience, and are left to the common Refuge, which God hath provided for all Men, against Force and Violence. Whensoever therefore the Legislative shall transgress this fundamental Rule of Society; and either by Ambition, Fear, Folly or Corruption, endeavor to grasp themselves, or put into the hands of any other an Absolute Power over the Lives, Liberties, and Estates of the People; By this breach of Trust they forfeit the Power, the People had put into their hands, for quite contrary ends, and it devolves to the People, who have a Right to resume their original Liberty."

To further such goals as the fundamental right to life, liberty, and property, Locke supported the individual right to gun ownership for personal defense and against the government tyranny.[4] He did however did not think this right was unlimited, believing that a government's right is to do acts and laws for the common good.[5]

Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson is often cited as a fervent supporter of not only Right of revolution but the prior arming competent and checks to "government tyranny" in support of the bearing of arms Jefferson belief is that the "people" should retain arms to protect themselves against government tyranny.

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."[6]

He was often supportive of rebellion to prevent tyranny in his writings in letters to friends saying.

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."[7] "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical"[8]

Jefferson's beliefs were in line with his and other Anti-Federalist fears of the Federalist Party as they feared that the federalist would use the federal government to take away the arms of the nation, and the building up of a large national military to oppress the people.[9]

Connection with American Politics

see also American militia movement, Boogaloo movement

Insurrectionist theory has gained transaction in previous years with the rise of the American militia movement, a sort of loosely aligned anti-governmental groups who believe their carrying on the tradition of the founding fathers, they often claim to organize for the purpose of "checking" or "resisting" a tyrannical government. The Boogaloo movement is often more aggressive in this stance often advocating for a second civil war, or an armed revolution.[10][11]

Criticism

Adherents often are associated with anti-governmental extremist organizations, some with far-right standings, such as the III%ers, Boogaloo Movement, Oath Keepers, and Light foot militias, often under the umbrella of the American militia movement. Some of the following, predominantly the III%ers and Boogaloo movement are associated with domestic terrorism incidents such as Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot,and 2021 storming of the United States Capitol and anti-government standoffs such as the Bundy standoff,and Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

References
  1. Dunlap USAF, COL. Charles J. "Revolt of the Masses". Duke University.
  2. Henigan, Dennis A. (1991). "Arms, Anarchy and the Second Amendment". Valparaiso University.
  3. Horwitz, Joshua (2009). "Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea" (PDF). University of Michigan.
  4. Tunick, Mark. "JOHN LOCKE AND THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS." History of Political Thought 35, no. 1 (2014): 50-69. Accessed April 7, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26227264.
  5. EDU, ILLINOIS (12 April 2018). "John Locke and Gun Control".
  6. "Strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms (Spurious Quotation) | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello". www.monticello.org. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  7. "The tree of liberty... (Quotation) | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello". www.monticello.org. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  8. "Founders Online: From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 January 1787". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  9. "Interpretation: The Second Amendment | The National Constitution Center". constitutioncenter.org. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  10. League, Anti-Defamation. "The Boogaloo Movement". ADL.
  11. League, Anti-Defamation (2021). "The Militia Movement". ADL.
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