Open Source Defense

Open Source Defense is a Substack focused on gun rights without engaging in culture war rhetoric. It features analysis of laws, historical perspectives on gun ownership, critiques of gun control advocacy, and discussions on the societal implications of legislative actions on firearms. The content encourages a nuanced understanding of gun rights, advocating for individual liberties and critiquing broad legal interpretations and government actions.

Gun Rights and Legislation Legal Analysis and Advocacy Societal Implications of Gun Ownership Historical Perspectives on Firearms Criticisms of Gun Control Measures Individual Liberties and Government Actions Technology and Innovation in Firearms Community and Culture in Gun Ownership

The hottest Substack posts of Open Source Defense

And their main takeaways

OSD 313: How many guns is a lot of guns? Let’s do the math.

56 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gun Control Legislation Public Safety Political Analysis
  1. Buying 34 guns in just five months is very unusual, but not impossible given the size of the gun-owning population. Some very dedicated collectors might purchase in large quantities over time.
  2. The lawsuit against gun sellers for this buyer was dismissed because each seller had no reason to suspect he was a straw purchaser. They had little information due to his spreading purchases across multiple stores.
  3. Even though some people do buy a lot of guns quickly, it's a small portion of gun owners. Selling to responsible buyers while preventing illegal purchases is a tough balance for sellers.

OSD 312: Do you remember how hyped you were to buy your first gun?

59 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation Civil Rights Legal issues Public Policy
  1. Buying your first gun feels like a big deal, especially if you've never had one before. It's exciting and can feel like a major life choice.
  2. For many people, modern gun culture is still new and unknown. There are many opportunities to introduce them to this world.
  3. The future of gun culture and tech is bright. As more people get involved, there will be many amazing and innovative things created in the coming years.

OSD 311: The courts will never protect your rights

52 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judicial system Civil Rights Criminal Justice Legal Reform
  1. Courts are often seen as protectors of rights, but they mainly follow existing rules rather than actively defending individual freedoms. This means real change often comes from cultural shifts instead.
  2. Most criminal cases end in plea deals, not trials. This shows how courts can actually support systems that pressure people into giving up their rights to fight their charges.
  3. Historical examples show that courts sometimes fail to protect rights when it matters most. Cultures and societal values shape the law more than court decisions, so real progress comes from public support and action.

OSD 310: How to take a newbie to the range

56 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gun Rights Legal issues Public Policy Civil Rights
  1. Introduce newbies to guns slowly and safely. Start with talking about noise and safety, and allow them time to get comfortable before shooting.
  2. Choose the right kind of gun for their first experience. A .22 LR is good for beginners as it has less recoil and noise compared to larger firearms.
  3. Make the range visit fun and pressure-free. Focus on their comfort and enjoyment rather than on rules or complex topics like gun laws.

OSD 308: Instagram matters more than gun laws do

80 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gun Rights Social media Legislation Public Policy Cultural influence
  1. Social media has a huge impact on discussing gun rights. If people can freely talk about guns online, they can challenge and change laws more effectively.
  2. Current rules on social media limit conversations about guns, which can make laws tougher to fight against. Better communication online can help spread good ideas and innovations about gun rights.
  3. Gun laws are important, but the culture around guns and the ability to talk about them online is even more powerful. A strong gun culture can prevent restrictive laws from being made in the first place.
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OSD 307: Don’t waste your life on reacting

73 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Social Commentary Personal Development Gun Rights Community Engagement
  1. Always reacting to news and current events can waste your life. Focus on what really matters instead of getting caught up in every new story.
  2. Most of the things you react to won't matter in the long run. It's better to spend your energy on efforts that will have a lasting impact.
  3. Playing defense by constantly reacting can make you feel cynical and disconnected. Instead, take action that reflects your own values and goals.

OSD 309: You can’t ban things that have hit escape velocity

38 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Government Economics Civil Rights Social Issues
  1. Once something becomes very popular and widely used, it's really hard to ban it. People may talk about banning things like TikTok or certain guns, but actually doing it is much tougher.
  2. Banning things is often just talk. Many who support a ban won't follow through if it means facing real consequences or backlash.
  3. Public opinion shifts as something becomes more popular. Just like with TikTok and guns, the more people that use something, the harder it becomes to take it away from them.

OSD 305: Drones are the frontier of the Second Amendment

87 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gun Rights Regulation Technology Civil Liberties Defense
  1. Drones are becoming important tools for personal defense, just like guns once did. They can do more than just be weapons; they can also gather information and communicate.
  2. Drones are more advanced than traditional firearms because they can work together as a team. This teamwork can make people's defenses much stronger than just using guns alone.
  3. Current laws and regulations limit how we can use drones. If rules were less restrictive, drones could be much more useful, potentially reshaping what it means to have the right to defend ourselves.

OSD 303: Why isn’t there more violence?

52 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gun Control Crime Rates Public Policy Culture
  1. Laws alone don't heavily influence crime rates; many other factors play a significant role. Neighborhoods with the same laws can show huge differences in violence rates due to social and cultural differences.
  2. Most people choose not to engage in violence because they have better life choices and moral values. It's a positive sign that people's personal choices, rather than just laws, limit violence.
  3. Issues like gun misuse are not just about making laws tougher but about changing cultural attitudes toward violence. Making misuse culturally unthinkable can be more effective than focusing solely on legislation.

OSD 304: The copycat effect and that which must not be named

38 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gun Control Media influence Public Safety Social Issues
  1. Talking about violent events can sometimes lead to more similar events happening, known as the copycat effect. It's important to raise awareness but to be careful with how we discuss it.
  2. Media attention on mass shootings often makes the shooters more famous, which can inspire others to commit similar acts. Limiting this coverage may help reduce future incidents.
  3. When discussing tragic events, it's best to avoid sharing the names or details of the perpetrators. Instead, focus on the victims and positive actions taken during the crisis.

OSD 306: 2024 in review

24 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gun Rights Surveillance Government Power
  1. The news shows a trend of increasing government control using technology, like surveillance and social credit systems. This raises important questions about privacy and safety.
  2. The concept of accountability is being discussed, especially regarding parents and their children’s actions. It's important to understand how our responsibilities can affect others.
  3. There’s a belief that many people feel free while living in a system with hidden restrictions. It’s crucial to recognize the signs of these limitations to truly understand our freedoms.

OSD 300: Open Source Defense Capital

59 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
💼 Business Startups Capital Investing Technology Defense
  1. Modern tech is changing the civilian defense industry, making it more about community and content creation than just products. Companies are now focusing on building strong organizations and engaging their customers online.
  2. Founders in the civilian defense space face challenges due to a lack of resources and funding, which makes it harder for them to grow. This is different from the tech startup ecosystem, where support is abundant.
  3. To improve gun rights, it's important to create and promote high-quality gun products. Great products can help change laws and build a supportive community around them.

OSD 301: Politics will not save you. Technology and culture will.

45 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
  1. Focusing on technology and culture can be more effective for advancing gun rights than relying on political changes. If people love self-defense tech, that can shape public views.
  2. The U.S. political system often undermines efforts for real reform, as past presidents have not done much to protect gun rights despite saying they support them.
  3. To create meaningful change, it's better to build a strong culture around self-defense that can influence politics, rather than just waiting for lawmakers to act.

OSD 299: What a president can do

56 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gun Rights Executive Power Political culture Legislation
  1. Historically, pro-gun presidents haven't made major changes once in office. This shows that having the right president isn't always enough for gun rights.
  2. The president can still take meaningful actions to support gun rights, but many of these require working with Congress. Some changes can be done alone, but they're often not pursued.
  3. Eventually, culture and technology around gun rights will matter more than politics. Even if presidents don't act, gun rights may keep growing thanks to shifts in public opinion and advances in tech.

OSD 297: You can’t fake gun knowledge

59 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Political Campaigns Public Opinion Media Coverage
  1. In today's world, people can't just fake their knowledge about guns; they need to actually show they know what they're talking about.
  2. If someone makes mistakes about guns, social media will quickly point it out, making it hard to mislead others.
  3. This shift helps spread accurate information more easily and challenges old sources of misinformation about firearms.

OSD 298: Launching the OSD podcast. Episode 1 with Isaac Botkin.

35 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🎙 Podcasts Media Entertainment Technology Culture Business
  1. The OSD podcast has launched with Isaac Botkin as the first guest, sharing insights from his experiences.
  2. Growing a business quickly can be tough, especially when finding skilled and dedicated team members is challenging.
  3. Content marketing for companies in civilian defense is changing, and there are interesting discussions about the future of gun culture and technology.

OSD 261: Murder rates are determined by your level of zoom

63 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime Statistics Gun Rights
  1. Violence in society is like bubble tea - the bubbles, not the milk. It's not evenly distributed, but lumpy.
  2. Murder rates can vary widely within the same city, with certain neighborhoods being safer than others. High-level averages can be misleading.
  3. Your personal risk of violence is heavily influenced by factors like geography, behavior, and demographics, rather than just general statistics. Adjust your level of focus accordingly.

OSD 260: Frozen in amber

49 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation Legislation Court Cases Gun Rights Innovation
  1. Proposed AI regulations could stifle innovation by imposing stringent safety measures early in development.
  2. Legal standards like the 'common use' test in gun laws can freeze technology at a specific point, hindering progress and new advancements.
  3. Existing laws may have unintentionally restricted innovation in areas like firearms, highlighting the importance of vigilantly advocating for innovation-friendly policies.

OSD 264: Fully ad-o-matic

38 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
💼 Business Startups Advertising
  1. Simple rules can have significant effects - like how gun retail is limited by the requirement to ship to an FFL, hindering modern advances.
  2. Opportunities arise in niches - focusing on success even within a small niche can lead to overall growth and expansion rather than exclusion.
  3. There is a positive change happening - gun culture is starting to blend into mainstream industries, with more support and interest becoming evident.

OSD 247: ATF and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week

56 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Second Amendment Legislative Process Gun Rights
  1. Recent legal challenges against ATF rules highlight administrative law complexities, not just gun rights.
  2. Engaging in detailed rule debates with ATF is less impactful than questioning their authority to create rules.
  3. The key to influencing government actions lies in making it politically beneficial for officials to act in the right way, or stripping away their power to act wrongly.

OSD 265: What is technology controlled by a foreign adversary?

31 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Technology Free speech Second Amendment Gun Rights First Amendment
  1. Technology controlled by a foreign adversary raises concerns about government control over app stores and websites.
  2. The debate over restricting technology based on geopolitical concerns challenges free speech principles and individual freedoms.
  3. There's a contrast between how free speech and gun rights are viewed in the US, highlighting the potential for progress in the Second Amendment space.

OSD 259: The floor is lava

38 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Criminal Justice Law enforcement Civil Liberties
  1. The prohibited persons ban in the Gun Control Act is quite strange and involves severe consequences.
  2. Larry Vickers' conviction of breaking a federal paperwork law has resulted in an ironic punishment where he can't possess firearms anymore.
  3. Federal gun law, particularly section 18 USC \/ 922(g), has broad and severe prohibitions that affect many unsuspecting individuals, causing unintended consequences.

OSD 232: The gun control Laffer curve

73 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gun Control Taxation Government
  1. The Laffer curve shows that increasing tax rates may eventually lead to decreased tax revenue.
  2. Gun control groups face challenges in achieving their goals due to individual incentives conflicting with group objectives.
  3. Individuals acting in their own self-interest can hinder the overall effectiveness of a movement.

OSD 263: AlphaGo and invisible limits

28 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Gun Rights Mental health Tech advancements
  1. Innovation can be driven by existential threats - challenges can push you to become stronger and force innovation, making threats potentially beneficial.
  2. Struggles and restrictions can lead to progress - historical examples show that adversity in gun rights led to major advancements and innovation in the gun community.
  3. Reacting positively to challenges can bring long-term benefits - while restrictions are not ideal, responding with innovation and galvanizing communities can lead to positive outcomes over time.

OSD 234: Accidental rebels

63 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation Norms Government Relations
  1. Gun laws that are easy to break accidentally with severe punishments attract the most attention.
  2. Stigmatizing gun ownership can be done by creating laws that are easy to violate accidentally, thus deterring new gun owners.
  3. The unwritten norms and interpretations in laws and regulations play a significant role in shaping relationships and enforcement actions.