“God made all men, but Sam Colt made them equal.”
That famous Colt firearms slogan from the 19th century wasn’t just clever marketing – it captured a fundamental truth about early American life. From the founding of this country, going armed was simply part of everyday existence. You didn’t wait for someone else to protect you. Your safety was your responsibility. Fast-forward to today, and we’ve come full circle. Millions of Americans now carry modern pistols like the Glock every day, updating that old saying to: “God made all men, but Glock made them equal.”
This idea that personal safety is first and foremost your job is deeply rooted in American culture. It’s not the norm in most other developed nations. And in the 21st century, it’s making a powerful comeback.
Self-Reliance: The American Way from the Beginning
When the United States was founded, there were no professional police departments. None. Citizens handled their own security. Sheriffs, constables, and posses existed, but day-to-day protection was an individual and community responsibility. The Second Amendment wasn’t some abstract idea, it reflected the reality that free people kept and bore arms as a natural right.
The first modern, full-time, publicly funded police department in America wasn’t established until 1838, when Boston created its force. Most major cities didn’t follow until the 1870s through the 1890s, driven by urbanization and industrialization. Before that, if trouble came knocking, you dealt with it yourself or with your neighbors.
This wasn’t unique to rural areas. Even in growing towns, the expectation was clear: be prepared.
The Shift: Handing Safety Over to the State
Things started to change after the Civil War. As cities grew and the “Old West” developed, many towns passed local ordinances restricting the carrying of firearms within town limits. Dodge City, Tombstone, and other frontier hubs famously required visitors to check their guns, like a coat at a restaurant, to keep the peace and encourage families and business to move to town.
These weren’t outright bans on ownership (guns were tools of survival), but they marked the beginning of a cultural shift: from self-sufficient security to relying more on organized law enforcement.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, professional police forces became the norm. The state gradually took on more responsibility for public safety. Over time, this evolved into a broader mindset – one where many Americans began to view personal protection as someone else’s job. The government would handle it. Just call 911.
The Great Reversal in Modern America
That shift didn’t last forever.
In recent decades, Americans have been taking back responsibility for their own safety and the trend is accelerating. Shall-issue concealed carry laws spread across the country in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, 29 states have constitutional (permitless) carry, meaning law-abiding adults can carry without a government permission slip. Public carry by ordinary citizens is commonplace again, not just in rural areas but in cities and suburbs nationwide.
Concealed carry permit numbers have hovered around 20-22 million in recent years (even as many in permitless states no longer bother getting one). Firearms are used defensively an estimated 1 to 2 million times per year, often simply by presenting a gun to stop a threat without a shot fired.
This isn’t nostalgia for the Wild West. It’s a return to first principles: you are the first responder.
Why This Is Uniquely American
No other major developed country treats personal responsibility for safety the way America does. In places like the UK, Australia, or much of Europe, civilian ownership and carry for self-defense are heavily restricted or effectively banned. The state claims a near-monopoly on the use of force. Citizens are expected to rely on police who, by the way, have no legal duty to protect any specific individual in most jurisdictions.
America is different because our culture was built on individualism, self-reliance, and a healthy skepticism of centralized power. The Founding Fathers understood that an armed populace isn’t just about hunting or sport. It’s about preserving liberty and personal security. Our frontier history reinforced it. Even the Old West towns that restricted carry inside city limits still expected people to be armed and capable when traveling between them.
In the 21st century, this cultural idea stands out even more. Crime spikes, “defund the police” experiments, and long response times (often 8-10 minutes or more) remind us that the cavalry isn’t always coming instantly. As the saying goes, when seconds count, the police are minutes away. That’s not a criticism of law enforcement – it’s reality.
Embracing the Responsibility
Taking responsibility for your own safety isn’t about fear. It’s about freedom. It’s about being a capable adult in an unpredictable world. It means getting trained, choosing the right tools (reliable Glocks, Smith & Wessons, Sigs, Kimbers, and other modern pistols), and carrying them responsibly every day.
This uniquely American mindset isn’t going away. It’s growing state by state, person by person. Because deep down, we know the truth the Founders knew: the ultimate guardian of your life, your family, and your liberty is you.
Stay safe, stay armed, and stay American.
