Long ago on comp.lang.python, there was an off-topic discussion regarding the use of lethal force, armed citizens and government in general. Alex Martelli explained the choices brilliantly and I want to preserve it for posterity (full context and reference):

"[S]aying that we do NOT want the government to have the monopoly of lethal force is exactly equivalent to saying we do not want effective government (Hobbes would surely argue that way) -- we prefer deliberately-hobbled government to government that is maximally effective. In this day and age it's hard to make a case for deliberately inefficient arrangements, although it IS possible to do so [...]. People who don't want ID cards to exist, don't want government DB's to be cross-linked, etc, plead much the same case -- they prefer inefficient government (whose inefficiencies may help terrorists and other criminals) to efficient government (whose efficiency might allow more effective oppression)."

—Alex Martelli, on comp.lang.python