Anarchist Gunsmith?: A Dilemma

[Kuppo Shakur]

Hello, fairly new member, here.

As may be told by my title and signature, I am planning on getting a gunsmith license once I am 21(still got a few years), and starting a small business to help provide people with firearms and such. Yet, I am starting to wonder how I could run this operation, and still be actively anarchist?

Even though I of course plan to do all of my gunsmithing strictly by law(Otherwise, I could be branded a terrorist, spend much time in jail, etc. (I live in the US, by the way)), would I be drawing too much unwanted attention to myself? How involved in anarchism do you think I would be able to be? Is there any happy/safe balance in this situation?

Any advice at all will be appreciated.

[The Ben G]

I think as long as the Governments dont know, you will be fine. Anyways, if you get rejected, you can move out into the woods, mountains, ect. and continue your trade there. YOu could still sell to those who will accept an unliscenced Gunsmith. I know I would.

[comradshaw]

Hello, fairly new member, here.

As may be told by my title and signature, I am planning on getting a gunsmith license once I am 21(still got a few years), and starting a small business to help provide people with firearms and such. Yet, I am starting to wonder how I could run this operation, and still be actively anarchist?

Even though I of course plan to do all of my gunsmithing strictly by law(Otherwise, I could be branded a terrorist, spend much time in jail, etc. (I live in the US, by the way)), would I be drawing too much unwanted attention to myself? How involved in anarchism do you think I would be able to be? Is there any happy/safe balance in this situation?

Any advice at all will be appreciated.

Comrade, if there are any redundancies with what anyone else said, I apologize, as I haven't read any of the other posts yet.

Here's my perspective: we're all trying to find a means to survive under capitalism. Some people have the intellectual means to work using their mind, whereas others have the capacity to work with their hands. Some individuals become brain surgeons to survive under capitalism, and some people open gunsmith businesses. My advice, personally, would be not to let your political identity persuade you from doing what you need to do to get by. We'll probably never see communism or socialism, so we may as well try to attain some kind of lifestyle.

I'm not saying we shouldn't organize and do political work, but there's also no reason that, if we have the means and feel like it would impact our, or loved one's survival under capitalism, we shouldn't be shop-owners. Who cares if this technically makes you petit-bourgeois? Also, this may give you the means to start a coop or a workers' controlled firm, which certainly won't bring capitalism to a screeching halt, but is a way to prefigure the economic relations that anarchists/socialists would like to see come about.

I think there's this notion that one will abandon class-struggle if they become a business owner or something. I don't think that's true. While the small capitalist is certainly a capitalist, the small capitalist has usually come from the working-class, and often goes back and forth from being per se petit-bourgeois to proletariat, ie, their business may fail and come about again.

Now, with all of this said, certainly the working class (IMO) must liberate itself, not privileged intellectuals or enlightened shop-owners. But I don't think you need to sacrifice your views to become a gunsmith. I think you could be as involved with anarchism as you wanted to be. Just my 2 cents.

[Kuppo Shakur]

Thank you for the comments.

Comradshaw: Your post was very thoughtful, and even though I'm not really worried about the morals of starting a business, it gave me a lot to consider. I don't have to do this to get by(in fact, I might not even be able to make enough money to sustain myself by this alone), I only want to be a professional gunsmith because I strongly believe in arming the people, but I don't want to get caught making and selling weaponry illegally, and being labeled a "terrist" and getting thrown into prison.
Problem is, I also want to be an actively involved contributor of the revolution.

So, to better state my question: What would be the best way to operate my gunsmith business, without the authorities noticing my alignment and involvement with anarchists and forming a case against me, even though I am following the law? Or do you think this could even happen? What would be the best thing for me to do to avoid this issue altogether?

Thanks in advance.

[comradshaw]

Thank you for the comments.

Comradshaw: Your post was very thoughtful, and even though I'm not really worried about the morals of starting a business, it gave me a lot to consider. I don't have to do this to get by(in fact, I might not even be able to make enough money to sustain myself by this alone), I only want to be a professional gunsmith because I strongly believe in arming the people, but I don't want to get caught making and selling weaponry illegally, and being labeled a "terrist" and getting thrown into prison.
Problem is, I also want to be an actively involved contributor of the revolution.

So, to better state my question: What would be the best way to operate my gunsmith business, without the authorities noticing my alignment and involvement with anarchists and forming a case against me, even though I am following the law? Or do you think this could even happen? What would be the best thing for me to do to avoid this issue altogether?

Thanks in advance.

Comrade, as long as you keep your nose clean, it's really no one else's business what your intent is. As long as you're not hurting anyone, and staying above-ground, you could use your business as a consciousness-raising wing. You could publicly make your business a place where radicals come and learn how to use firearms, link up with other radicals, discuss revolutionary strategy, etc.

I think as far as visions of some glorious revolution happening, I think it's a mixed bag. The radical left is nowhere near where it needs to be in any country to even talk about a clash with the State. Right now I think the best thing we can do is participate in real-time struggles and focus on educating ourselves and others, agitating, and attempting to organize at the workplace and in communities. There's certainly nothing wrong with learning how to use a firearm (or not) in the process.

[Salyut]

You could try doing a workers cooperative, but you'd need co-workers for that...

As a side-note, I have an Alaskan friend who really wants to become a gunsmith, where can you take the program?

[Muzk]

They randomly beat up people on the street, what makes you think you can openly advocate helping revolutionaries on how to use guns...


You could publicly make your business a place where radicals come and learn how to use firearms, link up with other radicals, discuss revolutionary strategy, etc.

The law doesn't follow the law, ever! Btw, the feds are watching this forum.

[Devrim]

As may be told by my title and signature, I am planning on getting a gunsmith license once I am 21(still got a few years), and starting a small business to help provide people with firearms and such. Yet, I am starting to wonder how I could run this operation, and still be actively anarchist?

If you have still got a few years until you are twenty-one, I wouldn't worry about it at the moment. By the time you are old enough, you might have completely different ideas about what you want to do.

Devrim

[pastradamus]

Hello, fairly new member, here.

As may be told by my title and signature, I am planning on getting a gunsmith license once I am 21(still got a few years), and starting a small business to help provide people with firearms and such. Yet, I am starting to wonder how I could run this operation, and still be actively anarchist?

Even though I of course plan to do all of my gunsmithing strictly by law(Otherwise, I could be branded a terrorist, spend much time in jail, etc. (I live in the US, by the way)), would I be drawing too much unwanted attention to myself? How involved in anarchism do you think I would be able to be? Is there any happy/safe balance in this situation?

Any advice at all will be appreciated.


A good anarchist/Socialist in general, can run his/her own business - as long as it dosent exploit the labour of others for profit (collective profit is what we're aiming for here). But yeah, that said, I agree with devrim. I've had more jobs than I could throw a stick at and I've 3 different degrees! Im 24 now and I still havent a clue what I want to do with my life! At 21 I was exactly the same. Take your time, dont let work plan your life for you comrade.

[Decolonize The Left]

Both Devrim and pastradamus offer good advice. There is no reason to fear the future and address this fear through long-term 'life plans.' I recommend casually pursuing what it means to be a gunsmith, perhaps apprentice or take a class? If it appeals to you in a deeply satisfying manner, then continue. If not, drop it and move on.

As a relatively young person myself I am familiar with uncertainty. It is important to remember that uncertainty, while intimidating, is also a tool. For through it one can uncover things which may have previously or alternatively gone unnoticed.

- August

[Wolf Larson]

Are you a "anarcho" capitalist?

[Girl A]

Are you a "anarcho" capitalist?

I wouldn't think so... seems like a comrade to me:)

[Kuppo Shakur]

Comrade, as long as you keep your nose clean, it's really no one else's business what your intent is. As long as you're not hurting anyone, and staying above-ground, you could use your business as a consciousness-raising wing. You could publicly make your business a place where radicals come and learn how to use firearms, link up with other radicals, discuss revolutionary strategy, etc.

I think as far as visions of some glorious revolution happening, I think it's a mixed bag. The radical left is nowhere near where it needs to be in any country to even talk about a clash with the State. Right now I think the best thing we can do is participate in real-time struggles and focus on educating ourselves and others, agitating, and attempting to organize at the workplace and in communities. There's certainly nothing wrong with learning how to use a firearm (or not) in the process.

Yes, this is basically what I was thinking. I don't plan at all to actually make profit through running a "business", I just think it would be the best way to work towards arming the general population. The problem that still arises though is what Muzk said about the authorities getting nervous about me arming and training revolutionaries. I would rather play it safe to avoid having "TERRORIST" tattooed on my face, but I don't know what the best way to do this is.


If you have still got a few years until you are twenty-one, I wouldn't worry about it at the moment. By the time you are old enough, you might have completely different ideas about what you want to do.

A good anarchist/Socialist in general, can run his/her own business - as long as it dosent exploit the labour of others for profit (collective profit is what we're aiming for here). But yeah, that said, I agree with devrim. I've had more jobs than I could throw a stick at and I've 3 different degrees! Im 24 now and I still havent a clue what I want to do with my life! At 21 I was exactly the same. Take your time, dont let work plan your life for you comrade.

Both Devrim and pastradamus offer good advice. There is no reason to fear the future and address this fear through long-term 'life plans.' I recommend casually pursuing what it means to be a gunsmith, perhaps apprentice or take a class? If it appeals to you in a deeply satisfying manner, then continue. If not, drop it and move on.

As a relatively young person myself I am familiar with uncertainty. It is important to remember that uncertainty, while intimidating, is also a tool. For through it one can uncover things which may have previously or alternatively gone unnoticed.

I thank you each for the comments, as this is something that I tend to have to keep being reminded of. Yet, firearms deeply interest me, and I believe I will always keep them in my life, at least as a hobby. So, even if I don't go and procure a building and all that through which to run my "business", I still want to be able to tinker with and build guns. Therefore, the predicament still stands on how I can be "that creepy guy who builds rifles in his basement", without the authorities getting too suspicious.


Are you a "anarcho" capitalist?

I don't know if I should laugh or be insulted. Ah hell: :laugh:

[Uppercut]

Are you a "anarcho" capitalist?

He's not like comrade_anarchist, the Ayn Rand loving, Anton Levay worshipping rightist.

[Mälli]

Dude, change your signature. Big bro is allways watching. :thumbup1:

[Uppercut]

Dude, change your signature. Big bro is allways watching. :thumbup1:

Fuck Big Brother!:lol:

[Raúl Duke]

Hello, fairly new member, here.

As may be told by my title and signature, I am planning on getting a gunsmith license once I am 21(still got a few years), and starting a small business to help provide people with firearms and such. Yet, I am starting to wonder how I could run this operation, and still be actively anarchist?

Even though I of course plan to do all of my gunsmithing strictly by law(Otherwise, I could be branded a terrorist, spend much time in jail, etc. (I live in the US, by the way)), would I be drawing too much unwanted attention to myself? How involved in anarchism do you think I would be able to be? Is there any happy/safe balance in this situation?

Any advice at all will be appreciated.

First, I say if that's what you want to do to get by or if that's what you want to do because you enjoy it than go ahead.

Second, If the business consists of just yourself...that you aren't exactly exploiting anyone per se in the realm of labor (in the realm of consumers, idk). Thus, it doesn't really contradict anarchism/leftism much (relative to having a business that employs people). If you do employ people for wages...I guess all I can say is not to get to stressed about the contradiction (sure you may perhaps be of a different class but every revolution has "defections", I think even Marx made reference to this, and surely we hope to see you on our side).

Third, I sure hope that when the revolution comes you'll provide us guns, etc (rhetorical question, do not respond to this point...they're allegedly monitoring).