Gun Confiscation Led To The Wounded Knee Massacre

Above, after the massacre.

It has been ages since I read the famous book by Dee Brown, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee", but I may still have a copy.

Ricochet.com has an article on what happens to people when their firearms are confiscated. Such was the case of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre that killed 300 Native Americans, many of which were women and children. This took place after the Sioux tribe's firearms were confiscated.

The article begins with:

The Battle at Wounded Knee is a significant battle in American history, as it put an end to the Indian Wars and is marked as the last official defeat of the Native Americans. But what’s not taught in history lessons is that Wounded Knee was one of the first federally backed gun confiscations in the history of the United States, and it ended in the massacre of nearly 300 unarmed people.

During the late 19th century, American Indians were allowed to purchase and carry firearms, just as white men were. The colonial gun laws did not bar Native Americans from possessing firearms, yet that natural right was violated by government forces at Wounded Knee. And once the guns were confiscated, the battle ensued.

When we look at the issues surrounding gun confiscation, Wounded Knee gives us an example of the devastation that an unarmed people can experience at the hands of their own government. This battle serves as a reminder to fight against gun confiscation and the gun control legislation that can lead to it.

To read more, go here.