Oh to be in France

From The Brussels Journal:

A quote from French Conservative presidential frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy on RTL radio, 22 September 2006

I would like to say one thing, in what is my conception of the Republic, security is the responsibility of the State, I am against militias, I am against the private ownership of firearms, and I’m trying to make you think about that. If you are assaulted by an armed burglar, he’ll use his weapon more effectively than you anyway so you’re risking your life. If the criminal is not armed and you are and you shoot, your life will be ruined, because killing someone over a theft is not in line with the republican values that are mine. The private ownership of firearms is dangerous. I understand your exasperation for having been burglarized two times, I understand the fear that your wife and daughter may have but the answer is in the efficiency of the police and the efficiency of the judiciary process, the answer is not in having guns at home.

There are so many ways one could comment on this.

I'll limit myself to this: In the case of France he may have something of a point. Note this line, "If you are assaulted by an armed burglar, he’ll use his weapon more effectively than you anyway so you’re risking your life." Since the only place that an average French citizen would have had the chance to learn to use a firearm would have been by serving in the French Army then it is highly likely that any conceivable opponent would be able to "use a weapon more effectively".For those born into and raised in a culture with a single-minded dedication to surrender and appeasement; to all of a sudden be expected to behave like a free human being is, perhaps, a bit much to ask.

The French just need to finally admit openly what the rest of the world (outside of Europe) has known for years. That they are a lesser order of creation than true humanity and get it over with.