Having been one of the first people to describe the conservative fear of Invisible Light Bulb Vigilantes, we now bring you the new hysteria: ‘U.N. Resolution 7277.’ I put it in scare quotes because it’s not a U.N. resolution; 7277 refers a U.S. Department of State numbering (they can’t even get that fucking right). 7277 was apparently one of the major rallying cries behind the nice little display of rightwing thuggery in Gilberton, PA.

What’s nuts is that 7277 was proposed in 1961 by the U.S., as an attempt to prevent international conflict, which, given the specter of nuclear war, was kinda important:

The revolutionary development of modern weapons within a world divided by serious ideological differences has produced a crisis in human history. In order to overcome the danger of nuclear war now confronting mankind, the United States has introduced at the Sixteenth General Assembly of the United Nations a Program for General and Complete Disarmament in a Peaceful World.

This new program provides for the progressive reduction of the war-making capabilities of nations and the simultaneous strengthening of international institutions to settle disputes and maintain the peace. It sets forth a series of comprehensive measures which can and should be taken in order to bring about a world in which there will be freedom from war and security for all states.

The document does call for this:

•The disbanding of all national armed forces and the prohibition of their reestablishment in any form whatsoever other than those required to preserve internal order and for contributions to a United Nations Peace Force;

•The elimination from national arsenals of all armaments, including all weapons of mass destruction and the means for their delivery, other than those required for a United Nations Peace Force and for maintaining internal order;

But it goes to great length to legitimize the use of “armaments” to maintain internal order. Nowhere, absolutely fucking nowhere, does it call for the registration or confiscation of personal firearms. 7277 is absolutely clear that it has no role in governing the internal security of individual states.

It is so painfully clear that this resolution is about reducing armed conflict among states, not gun control. In other words, armaments refers to things like tanks, artillery, not to mention biological, chemical and nuclear weapons.

Yet to the paranoid hysterics of the right, this is evidence that the U.S. is attempting to disarm the U.S. and submit to foreign authority. The Republican Party of Sarasota County, FL passed a resolution opposing this document (at least they got it right, and realize it’s not a UN resolution). It’s not just a couple of people in a basement; these are the rank and file of a major political party.

Movement conservative, as implemented, not as discussed on a few conservative blogs, can only be thought of as a collective psychotic break. It’s utterly unhinged.

While it’s tempting to mock this ‘moranity’, remember what I mentioned above: the thugs who prevented citizens from entering a public meeting used 7277 as one of their rallying cries.

Those on the left can expose this all we want, but it’s going to take conservatives who are willing to marginalize these lunatics to stop this madness. Unfortunately, none of the political incentives currently trend in that direction.

This could end poorly. Fear for the Republic.

Related gun ridiculousness: The NRA is now targeting scientists, environmental groups, government regulators and individuals who favor banning the use of lead in gun ammo, including the California Condor Recovery Team, all of which are described as having “considerable influence over many legislators and regulators.” It never ends.