That reason made sense back in Jefferson's day, when our miniscule army had no qualitative advantage in arms over a nation of self-sufficient farmers. Both sides were armed with the same type of weapons.

Today, however, it's only a "survivalist" fantasy to think that a citizen can take on the government. While you're sitting on your porch with a six-pack and your daddy's shotgun, challenging the government to bring it on, you'd be facing a government with a couple of million men under arms, including supersonic fighters, stealth bombers, tanks, nuclear submarines, attack helicopters, drones, chemical weapons, smart-bombs, bunker-busters, depleted uranium-tipped armor piercing shells, night fighting capability, aircraft carriers, etc.

You could go out in a blaze of glory, I guess. That'd show 'em.

It's fun, I guess, to entertain Rambo fantasies about fighting the "big, bad guvmint," but that's not really an option anymore.

The focus should be on being an active citizen, expressing your views at the ballot box and in public forums, and doing your part to keep government honest, efficient and responsible. Not as sexy as playing freedom fighter, of course, but certainly more realistic.

But keep your guns to protect your family from criminals.