Apparently, some of the 'militi(ous)men' have made final, farewell videos, addressed to their families, as a last goodbye. It just reinforces my belief that the ultimate purpose of guns is to commit suicide. This article contains a term I hadn't heard before- ammosexual. No comment.
No Fed Action Planned, but Oregon Militia Loons Post Hilarious "Goodbye" Videos
It's difficult to laugh about this. Reading about it, I'm put in mind of the Waco Siege of 1993, when, after a 51-day standoff, 76 people died, as federal agents stormed their compound, and fire broke out. It isn't known whether the fire was accidental or deliberately set by the "defenders." I'm also reminded of the Jonestown massacre in Guyana, where 900 people committed suicide by cyanide as "proof" of their ideology.
This isn't about ideology. It's about the use of force. These men have deliberately set up a life-and-death situation, and in doing so, have brought their mental health into question.
That said, I think guns should be regulated in a way similar to cars. Every gun sale, trade, and gift should be rigorously documented through registration; furthermore, every gun should be required to be re-registered on an annual basis, just like cars, to eliminate back-room swaps. Gun owners should be required to be licensed, but only after passing rigorous safety tests, and should be re-tested periodically. Perhaps just as importantly, gun owners should be required to carry liability insurance, including medical, hospitalization, property damage, funeral expenses,
etc., on each of their firearms, against any damage they may inflict, whether accidental or intentional. Anyone denied an insurance policy, because they are deemed a financial risk, or otherwise unreliable, should be disqualified from owning a gun. This isn't intended to punish honest, law-abiding citizens, but to help such citizens be more truly "responsible," as they're so fond of claiming to be, when in reality, they aren't being very responsible at all. They're taking a free ride on the rest of us, by putting us at risk, for their fun. If guns were made more difficult- and expensive- to obtain and maintain, their popularity as play-things and toys might diminish. If people want to play with fire, let them pay the price, as honest, law-abiding citizens.