I have tried my best to keep from joining the fray that has ensued due to the tragic school shooting several days ago mainly because I do not believe in taking a tragedy and spinning it into political ammo in order to push an agenda.
But sadly the progressive left doesn't share the same good taste. So in response to the attacks on what I consider the essential right which protects my Liberty, I feel compelled to write this.
One of the great shames that has continued to take place over the past 30 or so years is that generations of Americans have been taught that we, as a nation, are nothing special. That the United States is not unique in the modern world and therefore we deserve no special consideration as it pertains to how our laws are written. There has been a constant push from those on the left that we should, "Be like Europe". From the concepts of National Health Care to gun ownership.. the progressives believe we should just fall in line with the rest of the world.
Well if you are a believer in these progressive ideals then I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed in this post.. because sorry to tell you, but you're wrong.
The United States is entirely unique in the modern world because the founders drafted a document which was to create a government that was based on the belief every individual is sovereign. That every individual is born with 'natural rights' endowed by his creator. That these rights can not be removed by any form of Government or law created by man. No country in the history of the modern world has ever been founded on this concept which makes this nation absolutely unique. An acceptance of these facts are essential to understanding why the current tragedy should have no bearing on your right to gun ownership since it is comparing apples to oranges. One has nothing to do with the other because while one was a crime committed by a madman, the other is a right that pertains to your Liberty.
If you read the founders thoughts on natural rights you will notice that many, if not all, the rights they discuss are ones you bring into this world with you... I.E. Life, Liberty and the desire to Pursue Happiness. But there are other 'rights' which they included as Amendments to the Constitution which were meant to protect those natural rights. The 2nd Amendment being the most important, in my humble opinion, because it is the last line of defense for your Liberties.
The 2nd Amendment has nothing to do with hunting or even with protecting your family from crime. It, instead, is all about defending your Liberty from a tyrannical government. The founders understood from their own experience that without the proper tools (Firearms are tools) they could not defend themselves from the tyrannical King. So in order to help future generations protect their Liberty it was essential that Americans be gun owners. Because if a populace is unarmed and a government isn't, then short of throwing rocks, the populace will have nothing in which to defend themselves against tyranny.
It is not only your right as an American to own a firearm, it is your duty. Because a "Well Regulated Militia" is not the Federal Army or even the National Guard. It is you, your neighbors, your town and your state.
Knowing all of this Thomas Jefferson
wrote:
"When governments fear the people, there is Liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves from tyranny in government. "
And I'm pretty sure a government isn't going to be afraid of a populace armed with rocks and sticks or even just shot guns and revolvers, do you?
So when Progressives push for more gun control they are not actually trying to make you safer from crime but make you more susceptible to tyranny from the government.
Which ironically.... works in their favor.
