The Ethical Imperative of Civilian Firearm Ownership in the 21st Century: A Professional Analysis of National Security in an Age of Converging Threats

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1. Introduction

This analysis examines the ethical implications of civilian firearm ownership within the context of national security, specifically focusing on the Canadian context but with broader relevance to Western democracies. We argue that, under specific and extreme circumstances, a government policy of disarming the civilian population can constitute a profound ethical failure, violating the core principles of professional ethics that prioritize public safety and welfare. This is not a general argument for or against gun control, but a focused ethical analysis within a defined hypothetical scenario, informed by the current geopolitical climate and the expanding role of technology in governance.
  • Purpose of the Analysis: To explore the ethical dimensions of civilian firearm ownership in the context of national security, using a hypothetical scenario to test the limits of professional ethical codes.
  • Ethical Responsibility Across Professions: To demonstrate that the ethical responsibility to protect public safety extends beyond individual professional actions and encompasses a duty to address potential ethical breaches in other fields, particularly when those breaches have significant implications for national security.
  • Key Concerns with the Liberal Party’s Policy: To highlight specific concerns about the Liberal Party’s firearm policies in Canada, framing them within the broader ethical discussion.

2. The Context of Converging Threats

The Great Convergence: We are entering an era of unprecedented challenges, marked by the convergence of multiple crises: technological (AI, cyber warfare), environmental (climate change), societal (inequality, polarization), and geopolitical (the rising threat of large-scale conflict).
…creates a context of heightened vulnerability and necessitates a re-evaluation of traditional approaches to national security.
Title: “President Trump on Making Canada 51st State” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMDE8_fIr0U

3. The Imminence of Conflict

The global geopolitical landscape has become increasingly unstable since 2020, with rising tensions, proxy wars, and the erosion of international norms.

The possibility of a major global conflict, even World War III, is no longer a remote theoretical concern, but a tangible threat that must be considered in any serious analysis of national security.

The Expanding Role of Technology: Technology is no longer confined to specific sectors; it permeates every aspect of life, including governance. This necessitates a broader understanding of the ethical responsibilities of technical professionals, who are increasingly involved in shaping the systems that underpin modern society. This expands the scope of applied science technologists, engineers and information systems professionals into governance.

4. Ethical Foundations in Professional Codes

This section accurately outlines the relevant ethical principles.
  • 4.1. Engineers Canada – National Code of Ethics Core Principle: Public Safety and Welfare Duty to Address Ethical Breaches Reporting and Advocacy Mechanisms
  • 4.2. Information Systems Professionals (CIPS/ISP) Ethics Core Principle: Safeguarding Public Interest Duty to Address Cross-Disciplinary Ethical Breaches Ensuring Security and Trust in Public Infrastructure
  • 4.3. ASTTBC – Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC Ethics Core Principle: Protection of Public Safety Ethical Duty to Address Misconduct Corrective Actions and Public Welfare Responsibilities
  • 4.4. Synthesis and Broader Implications Shared Ethical Responsibility Across Professions Mechanisms for Reporting and Whistle-Blowing Interdisciplinary Responsibility for Public Safety The codes of ethics don’t just imply to report, but to take reasonable action, and hold others accountable.

5. Scenario Overview: Disarmament vs. Civilian Firearm Ownership – A Hypothetical for Ethical Analysis

This section incorporates the specific hypothetical and the clarifications:
  • The Hypothetical Scenario: To rigorously test the ethical implications of disarmament policies, we present a highly improbable, but theoretically possible, scenario: Imminent Invasion: Canada faces an immediate and credible threat of full-scale military invasion and annexation by a vastly superior military power (or coalition). Conventional Military Inadequacy: Canada’s conventional military forces are demonstrably insufficient to repel the invasion (7000 infantry to 12 000 infantry in primary force, instead of millions). Absence of Allied Support: Canada cannot rely on external military assistance due to unforeseen geopolitical circumstances. NATO members fragmented in support for defence of Canada in Europe, especially southern Europe an Eastern Europe which choose not to engage in far away British Columbia. USA refuses to defend Canada. Sole Deterrent: The only remaining factor that could deter the invasion is the presence of a significant, armed, and prepared civilian population. 2.4 million of Responsible Firearm Owners, with collections of millions of guns. Binary Outcome: In this specific scenario, the absence of civilian firearms guarantees annexation, while their presence guarantees deterrence.
  • Government Disarmament Policy and Its Consequences: We analyze a hypothetical government policy, similar in intent to the Liberal Party’s current approach, that mandates the removal or banning of firearms from the civilian population. In this specific scenario, such a policy would directly lead to the nation’s downfall.
  • The Role of Civilian Firearm Ownership in National Defense: Within this hypothetical, civilian firearm ownership is not merely a right or a hobby; it is the sole factor preventing national annihilation.
  • Ethical Dilemma: Weighing Public Safety Against National Security: The core ethical dilemma is whether it is justifiable to adopt a policy that, while potentially beneficial in other contexts, guarantees the complete destruction of the nation in this specific scenario.

6. Ethical Analysis Under Professional Frameworks

This section incorporates the core arguments and the hypothetical and the expanded role of technical professionals.
  • 6.1. Engineers Canada Perspective Core Mandate: Engineers are ethically bound to prioritize public safety above all else. This obligation extends beyond the immediate scope of their engineering projects to encompass the broader societal implications of policies that impact public safety. Analysis: Disarmament Consequence: In this scenario, removing all civilian firearms creates a condition of absolute vulnerability, leading to guaranteed annexation and catastrophic consequences. This is a direct and profound violation of the engineer’s duty to protect public welfare. Retained Firearm Ownership: While acknowledging potential risks associated with civilian firearm ownership, the existential threat of guaranteed annexation outweighs those risks within this specific hypothetical. A well-regulated and responsible civilian armament, in this context, aligns with the imperative to preserve the nation’s existence. The engineers have a duty to take action and hold those responsible for the disarmament to account. Engineers Canada – National Code of Ethics
  • 6.2. Information Systems Professionals (CIPS/ISP) Perspective Core Mandate: ISP professionals have a duty to ensure the security and stability of societal systems, including the critical infrastructure that underpins national security. This obligation extends to considering the impact of government policies on national resilience. Analysis: Disarmament Consequence: A policy that removes all civilian firearms, leading to certain annexation, would result in the complete collapse of Canada’s digital and physical infrastructure. This is a catastrophic failure to protect the public interest. Retained Firearm Ownership: Maintaining a civilian defense capability, in this scenario, contributes to a comprehensive security posture, ensuring that the nation’s defenses are not solely reliant on a demonstrably inadequate conventional military. This aligns with the ISP professional’s obligation to secure society’s overall stability. The ISP professional is also obligated to hold those responsible for the disarmament to account, and to take reasonable action. Information Systems Professionals I.S.P.
  • 6.3. ASTTBC Perspective Core Mandate: ASTTBC members are obligated to prioritize public safety in all their undertakings, including assessing the risks associated with policies that impact national security. Analysis: Disarmament Consequence: A policy that results in the guaranteed absence of civilian firearms, and thus directly invites annexation, is an abandonment of the ethical duty to protect public welfare. It neglects the tangible, technical aspects of national defense and leaves the population utterly defenseless. Retained Firearm Ownership: Allowing responsible firearm ownership, in this specific context, contributes to a layered defense strategy and fulfills the ethical obligation to safeguard the public from an imminent existential threat. The Applied Science Technologist also has a duty to hold others to account, and is obligated to take reasonable action. Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC
  • 6.4 The Context of the 21st Century The Codes can be applied to the situation of the 21st century, where the domains of engineering, technology, and governance is overlapping.

7. Overall Ethical Conclusion

  • Evaluating Disarmament Policy Under Ethical Law: Under the strictly defined hypothetical scenario – where the absence of civilian firearms guarantees annexation and their presence prevents it – the ethical analysis across all three professional frameworks leads to a clear conclusion: a government policy of disarmament is a profound ethical failure. It violates the core principle of protecting public safety and welfare, a principle that is paramount in all three professional codes.
  • Justification for Civilian Firearm Ownership in a National Security Context: Within this specific hypothetical, maintaining widespread, responsible civilian firearm ownership is not merely justifiable; it is ethically necessary to prevent national annihilation. This is not a general argument for or against gun control, but a recognition of the extreme circumstances presented in the scenario.
  • The Professional and Moral Obligation to Uphold Public Safety: The ethical codes of Engineers Canada, CIPS/ISP, and ASTTBC, while primarily focused on professional conduct within their respective fields, do create an obligation to address policies that pose a clear and demonstrable threat to public safety, even if those policies originate outside their immediate domain. In this extreme scenario, the threat is existential, and the technical expertise of these professionals is crucial to understanding the consequences of the policy. Therefore, they have a professional and moral obligation to speak out against it, and to take action to prevent it.

8. Broader Implications and Recommendations

This section expands on the ethical analysis and connects it to the broader context outlined in the “Great Convergence” and other articles.
  • The Urgency of the Present Moment: We are not simply discussing a theoretical ethical dilemma; we are facing a period of unprecedented challenges and potential global instability. The “Great Convergence” of technological, environmental, and societal crises, coupled with the rising threat of conflict, necessitates a fundamental re-evaluation of our approach to national security and societal resilience.
  • The Need for a Holistic Framework: Addressing these challenges requires a holistic framework that integrates technological advancement with enduring human values. This framework must prioritize: Decentralized Governance: Shifting power away from centralized institutions and towards more agile, localized structures. Individual and Community Resilience: Empowering citizens with the skills and resources to be self-sufficient and prepared for potential disruptions. Ethical Technological Development: Ensuring that technology serves humanity’s best interests and does not exacerbate existing inequalities or create new risks. A Renewed Emphasis on Spirituality, Philosophy, and Character: Recognizing the importance of these foundational pillars in building a cohesive and morally grounded society.
  • The Role of Skills Gap Trainer (SGT): The SGT framework, as outlined in the linked articles, offers a potential pathway towards this more resilient and sustainable future. It emphasizes practical solutions, decentralized systems, and a renewed focus on individual and community empowerment.
  • The need for bold action: Given the situation, the professional and the citizen might want to consider extreme action to correct the issue.
  • The Codes Imply Taking Action: The codes of ethics don’t just ask to report concerns. The codes expect professionals to hold others accountable, and to take action

9. Related Content and References

Technology Registrations Canada: https://www.technologyregistrationscanada.ca/
Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC: https://asttbc.org/
Engineers Canada: https://engineerscanada.ca/
Canada’s Association of Information Technology Professionals: https://cips.ca/
SGT Home Page: https://skillsgaptrainer.com

10. Disclaimer

The article emphasizes the urgency of the current global situation, the expanding role of technical professionals, and the potential ethical imperative of civilian firearm ownership under the specific, extreme circumstances outlined.
This article presents an ethical analysis within a highly specific and improbable hypothetical scenario. It is not intended as a general argument for or against gun control, nor is it a prediction of future events.
It is a thought experiment designed to explore the limits of professional ethics and the implications of policy choices in the face of existential threats forecast by academics and intellectuals throughout the world. The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s).
  • Valentin @ SGT, BCS, AScT – IT, I.S.P., MM UX
  • Team SGT, Anonymous Trades, Technicians, Technologists/Applied Scientists and Engineers

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