Hindsight is Bullshit, Or ...

"Hindsight is 20/20," or it's just plain wrong.

I was flipping through the September 2002 edition of American Riflman - the NRA's premier rag.

I stumbled upon what should rightly be called a glowing eulogy to William Batterman Ruger. Many took Ruger to task for going along the magazine-capacity partial ban of the early '90s (or so). I am still uncomfortable with any such accommodation (or, in Ruger's case, an apparent overabundance of self righteousness), BUT that was a different political climate, a different social climate, and the apex of Second Amendment dilution that ironically allowed for an abundance of pre-ban "banned" items.

Now in hindsight, when the worm has turned, people are recognizing that a right to arms is a Constitutional right at the lease and a natural right at the best, but we are stuck with draconian regulations and laws.

I fault Bill Ruger, Sr. for accommodation, but it seems his heart was in the right place. He was a good, though apparently harsh, guy.

If there is a lesson to be learned it is this: A right is a right, and it is folly to let it be abrogated in trade or to prevent a greater assault.

Mr. Ruger wasn't perfect, but he made great guns, supported the gun culture, contributed more than he took.