Innocents Betrayed: A History of Gun Control in the 20th Century

“One hundred seventy million people! What happens when self-defense is against the law? What happens when the protectors become the predators and innocents are betrayed?

“Imagine two-thirds of all Americans disappear. Or the countries of Germany, France and Spain are virtually wiped off the map-170 million people gone!

“In the 20th century, that’s how may innocents were slaughtered, tortured, starved, mutilated, worked to death, bayoneted, hanged, annihilated at the hands of their governments-they had no means to defend themselves.”

An explicit and direct documentary, “Innocents Betrayed” uses photos, footage, facts and figures. The film demonstrates that civilians should never relinquish their power to governments, no matter the promises of security.

Using historical examples from China, Germany, Cambodia, Guatemala, Uganda and Rwanda, the film shows us that government-not crime, war, or terrorism-is the most dangerous killer.

This film is not an easy one to watch. It tells of Japanese who would remove organs from live victims as punishment after they conquered parts of Asia.

In Cambodia citizens were killed for simply being educated, or for even talking to a child because the government prohibited social association.

“Innocents Betrayed” puts reality right in front of you without political mythology. Our rather sheltered sentiments make one think long and hard not only about gun control, but also about foreign policy, war, homeland security, the United Nations, the role of police and the role of government.

The rulers attacked the citizenry; the government supposedly promised their protection and security. Every genocidal situation started with ideas and programs of disarmament, gun licensing, registration, making guns illegal to carry, conceal and the discouragement of private self-defense.

When citizens lacked the power to resist, organized killing proceeded with little difficulty.

When the National Socialists entered France, they went to the local police stations where all gun owners were listed on a registry. These were then the first families to which the Nazis paid their visit.

Ethnic minorities most commonly were the targets of gun laws and genocide. Even today in the United States, race must be identified as part of gun registration.

After having seen the brutally harsh reality and unbelievable human misery that gun-control programs have affected on the world, it is difficult to believe in gun control.

The United States is not any different or more immune to other nations’ tyranny. Several initial American gun-control laws were created, preventing African-Americans from owning firearms.

Two examples were given in the film for average people in safe neighborhoods on a normal day in the United States:

In the 1990s, a female physician in Texas worried that if she got caught with a concealed firearm, she would lose her medical license. And so she would leave her gun in the car. While she ate breakfast, a car crashed into the coffee shop. The passengers got out and started shooting at people. She watched helplessly as her life remained at risk.

A total of 23 people were slain, including her father and her mother. Her gun was useless at a 100-foot distance and in her car.

Anyone who believes in gun control in whatever flavor should view this film.

This is so they can comprehend the part that gun control has played in a devastatingly brutal 20th century.

A total of 170,000,000 died in the 20th century from gun control.

How many will die in the 21st?