--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one is okay with police having guns…" description: "\"If one is okay with police having guns - whoever is designated as having authority - but panicked at the thought of their fellow man or themselves havi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/frank-j-fleming-56851_areas_if-one-is-okay-with-police-having-guns-w_2084302.jpg" --- # If one is okay with police having guns - whoever is… ![“If one is okay with police having guns - whoever is designated as having authority - but panicked at the thought of their fellow man or themselves having guns, then that is someone who does not think like a free person. He places a magical aura around whoever is in charge and only thinks they can…” quote by Frank J. Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/frank-j-fleming-56851_areas_if-one-is-okay-with-police-having-guns-w_2084302.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/frank-j-fleming-56851_areas_if-one-is-okay-with-police-having-guns-w_2084302.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/frank-j-fleming-56851_areas_if-one-is-okay-with-police-having-guns-w_2084302.jpg) > “If one is okay with police having guns - whoever is designated as having authority - but panicked at the thought of their fellow man or themselves having guns, then that is someone who does not think like a free person. He places a magical aura around whoever is in charge and only thinks they can wield power. This will come up again in other areas, such as letting government make economic decisions but fearing individual people making those decisions themselves.” [Frank J. Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-j-fleming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Believing authority must hold all power while fearing personal agency contradicts true liberty, creating a mythic reverence for leaders and distrust of individual decision‑making. **In simple terms:** Freedom requires trusting personal responsibility, not just leaders. Key Takeaway Question authority, empower individuals. Themes freedom authority individualism Mood critical reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - voting - community organizing - personal finance - self‑governance Key Concepts political philosophy psychology of power Questions to Reflect On - How does fear of personal power limit freedom? - What systems balance authority and individual agency? A Different Perspective Assumes all individuals are equally informed and rational. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auras/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Mental health is one of the biggest concerns, because now police are having to handle a lot of really difficult mental health problems on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/mental-health-is-one-of-the-biggest-concerns-because-now-police-are/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I see anarchism as the theoretical ideal to which we are all gradually evolving to a point where everybody can tell the truth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/i-see-anarchism-as-the-theoretical-ideal-to-which-we-are-all/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [“It wouldn’t be right to have a responsibility and be held accountable for a job without having the authority to do it. 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