Well, I'm a gun nut. 'Nuff said.
A free people should never tolerate a government that they couldn't trivially overthrow if they considered it inconvenient.
On firepower, there's only one proper stance: MOAR!
Let's imagine if this was the way it should be, citizens outgunning the gubbermint and not the other way around.
Government outlaws a vice the people happen to like. The people overthrow the government, hang'em, and start anew.
Government raises taxes. The people's decision is simple: DO. NOT. WANT. Overthrow the government, hang'em, start anew.
The government decides to regulate something. Let's say another land grab, or licensing monopoly scheme, or another fascist thing. The people decide they would much rather be left alone. They proceed to overthrow the government, hang'em, and start anew.
See a pattern there?
Eventually the government would abstain from stuff that would anger the populace, instead of forcing stuff down we the peasants' throats. Ideally, the end result (after a couple of overthrowals and hangings to REALLY drive the point home) would be an end to authoritarian stuff.
After all, you oppress SOME people, they ARE going to overthrow, hang and quarter your little extortion racket.
The people can and should outgun the gubbermint, and there should be a revolution with each generation. We don't really need to be ruled by a bunch of old prudes and squares and idiots. Roughly 20 years or so an overthrowal is in order. Good ol' Jefferson knew as much.