Nelson, GA has made gun ownership mandatory.

With a key caveat that there is no penalty for non-compliance, of course, therefore preserving the right of the people NOT to keep and bear arms if that is their choice.

I do want to be clear on that part of the issue: In the same way that nobody should be hindered in any way from exercising this right, no one who chooses not to should be forced to.

It is the POSSIBILITY that a citizen is armed that is the great protection. No one has the right to know one way or the other, including the government. The council had better not be keeping records of what people have. That would take away the element of protection against an oppressive government.

An interesting provision of this ordinance is that each head of household must own a gun and ammunition to "provide for the emergency management of the city" and to "provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants."

This seems very similar to Sage's militia proposal, which I really like, and it is consistent with federal law, that requires every able-bodied male to be armed so as to participate in the Militia.

My only gripe with it is that in making personal armament mandatory, the council is violating the rights of those who choose not to arm themselves according to this ordinance. Should it ever be enforced, it will be just as wrong as taking taking the guns from those who do choose to do so.

RWR