© 2016 by Chuck Klein
In his famous speech given at West Point, 12 May 1962, World War Two hero, General Douglas MacArthur, explained the obligation of soldiers with three words: “Duty, Honor, Country.” Nothing could be closer to the American ideals of our fighting forces. To Armed Citizens of American (ACA) those three words also apply, but so too, do: Integrity, Courage, Allegiance.
It is surely every decent, law-abiding citizen’s daily practice to live safely and to stand beside and to back-up like fellow Americans and . . . to always try to do the right thing. Safety is mostly a matter of practicing rules of common sense. There is little temptation to violate safety procedures. Not so, ethical matters.
The second to last thing a morally responsible, prudent person wants to do is kill another human being regardless of how reprehensible, villainous or dangerous that person might be. The last thing this morally responsible, prudent person wants to do is be killed by that reprehensible, villainous and dangerous person.
American ethics means, no lying, no cheating, no stealing—no exceptions, no excuses. Ethical behavior is also defined as a set, or system, of moral values and principles that are based on honesty and truthfulness and have been accepted as professional standards. To an ACA the ethical mind-set additionally includes: Integrity, Courage and Allegiance.
Integrity: A strong unyielding adherence to a code of moral uprightness. Professionals, such as lawyers and doctors, may hold to high standards of ethics while dealing within their trade, but should they involve themselves in questionable behavior in their private lives they could still be acceptable to their colleagues. Not so, ACA. Armed Citizens of America must have integrity and embrace ethical and moral conduct in all their private as well as public comings and goings lest they come under scrutiny after a self-defense incident. Conduct unbecoming an ACA applies all the time – work, play, family . . . .
Courage: It may take a lot of courage for a lawyer to face a jury or for an iron worker to scale buildings. But to act when other lives are in sudden and immediate life-threatening danger is an obligation that applies to ACA. Not only must the man or woman with the life-saving firearm be courageous, but they must also remain ethical while facing lethal risks. Engaging in a firefight where the bad guy is shooting at you takes extreme courage. Cowering, hiding or running away when you have the ability and opportunity to save lives—even if it means risking your own life—involves a much higher level of valor. An immense amount of courage is also required knowing you will face the aftermath that could include, but is not limited to: legal challenges and politically inspired smear campaigns that could also impact your family.
Allegiance: Committed to act with ethical integrity and courage; add now the requisite of loyalty to your fellow Americans and all of the laws, court rulings and constitutional mandates. Armed Citizens of America, being individualists, have individually pledged their allegiance to the flag of the United States and all that it stands for. Though other American citizens also take the pledge of allegiance to our flag, it is only the Armed Citizens of American who have the wherewithal to back-up, enforce and/or demonstrate their allegiance.
If you’re ever in a situation where another person is about to murder you, at that moment, you’d trade all your worldly possessions for a firearm. And, if that threat was to kill your child or your grandchild, you’d sell your soul for a gun.
Americans are noted for their basic honesty. This is their stock-in-trade, forte’, signature, persona, identification and what differentiates them from those of other nations. To the simple definition of ethics, the addendums Integrity, Courage, Allegiance is what separates ACAs from everyone else. To serve in this capacity marks a citizen as the epitome of what America is and what every decent, law-abiding, citizen aspires to be.
All this yea-team, feels-good rhetoric most certainly instills confidence and champions the great American spirit. But when events start to get out-of-hand— insurrection, riots, foreign invasion—the significance of Armed Citizens of American as our last line of defense becomes of great consequence.
There’s lots worse things than being killed by some thug—one is: watching a family member die at the hands of this thug because you were a fool for not carrying a gun.
Chuck Klein, a former LEO and retired P.I., is the author of GUNS IN THE WORKPLACE, A Manual for Private Sector Employers and Employees, INSTINCT COMBAT SHOOTING, Defensive Handgunning for Police, 4th Edition, and many other books, articles and columns. He may be reached via his website: www.chuckklein.com
