Thoughts on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Here is an article from another of my writers (Old Man Cooter) that is also in the June Issue of RAO. Feel free to check out the rest of the magazine at www.redashoutdoors.com
Thoughts on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
by Old Man Cooter
Hey Gang, Old Man Cooter here. Been reading about some of those folks who are all about anti-gun and who want those of us who have em' and use em' to just go along with them and turn em' in. Seems to me there are more groups out there who want to ban anything they don't particularly like or agree with. Why hell there are the anti-gun nuts, the anti-hunting nuts, the anti-eating meat nuts... not too mention the anti-fishing nuts, the anti-truck nuts, and tons more of anti-anything nuts. Their all nuts!
I have to laugh sometimes though. I saw a posting in one of the forums here that challenged the anti-gunners to stand up for their beliefs and post a sign in the front yards of their homes that proclaim "THIS IS A GUN FREE HOME!" Dang, I've been running the roads for awhile now and haven't seen one such single sign. I guess they have no problem squawking about the rights of others, but don't have the ba... er, fortitude to personally support their cause. Talk about a phone call at 3:00 AM... the neighbor with a gun in the house would be the first person called when the ag's (anti-gunner) heard someone breaking into their home.
The Second Amendment reads "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." The ag's always do their best to put their spin on what the Second Amendment says. Some of their arguments refer to the 'militia' as the National Guard. Sorry ag's, there was no National Guard when this was written. The militia, was and still is, the PEOPLE. Any need for a 'militia' to preserve and defend the security of a free state would be the people, who have a RIGHT to keep and bear arms to become the militia.
Another point here is that the Second Amendment doesn't say that the constitution gives the people the right to keep and bear arms, what is clearly says is that it recognizes the God given birthright for a person to defend their life, their families life, and their country. That is clearly shown in the words... "the right of the people to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED." In other words, legislators keep your hands off. Yet, they have infringed and continue to infringe in violation of the Constitution, especially some states and many metropolitan areas.
Now the First Amendment reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." Now let's, just for the heck of it explore this a bit. Let's say that there was a group who wanted the freedom of the press leashed back a bit and a Bill was introduced into the House for that purpose, let's say it was to limit some of the media's attacks on the government, or foreign policy, or the news pieces that came from leaks of sensitive material or information. What do you think would happen? The 'cow flops' would hit the fan, that is what would happen. The media would be 'up in arms' (no pun intended) and they would be screaming that their rights under the First Amendment were being infringed and that any such law would be unconstitutional. Guess what? The Second Amendment is as much as a right as the First, or as any of our rights.
Here in Pennsylvania, the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is even more clear... it states that: Right to Bear Arms Section 21. The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.
Before I go any further let me make something crystal clear, I am 100% American Patriot. I love my country with all that I am and would defend it and the Constitution of the United States with my life. In fact, I had taken that oath at an earlier point in my life and will honor it always.
The Second Amendment's purpose was to keep the power in the people's hands. Should a tyrannical government take power the people would have the ability to deny it. It was not primarily for the defense of this country from invading armies, but just for a moment let's take a look at that.
Especially in this day and age, if something catastrophic happened that enabled other nations to invade this country, and they did... they would be facing 80,000,000 Americans who were armed. Call those Americans the Militia if you will. Because of those 80,000,000 armed Americans, an invasion won't happen.
Let's take a look at another possibility. We all know that the 'terrorists' still want, and are planning attacks on this nation and it's people, we and our families and our way of life. Stick your head in the sand if you want but there is no denying it, or the possibility that this will happen.
Some type of catastrophic event, especially if it involves multiple population centers, supply centers and the nerve centers of our society could easily break that barrier between civility and anarchy. Remember the various riots of the past, where large numbers of people used the civil disorder as an excuse to loot, rob, rape, assault, pillage and burn? Now ponder on how bad things could get if that affected the nation as a whole. There would be groups roaming everywhere and taking what they wanted or needed by force. When a group of criminals bust into your home at three in the morning, you better be able to defend yourself, your wife, and your children.
This article was not written to frighten anyone, it was written to make you think. It was written to make you realize that the Second Amendment and the Right of the PEOPLE to keep and Bear Arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED, and why it shall not be infringed. More gun laws only affect the law abiding citizens, they do absolutely nothing to restrict the criminals.
Now more than ever, every single one of us who target shoot, hunt, collect or simply own a firearm for protection, as well as the millions of Americans who don't own a gun but who support the Second Amendment need to be heard. No longer can we shrug it off and let someone else do it, it's up to us.
Get involved, write letters to your representatives, let your voice be heard.
As an American I am exercising my First Amendment Right here. This is not a debate column, it is not a blog, this is MY column. There will be no viewpoints from those who do not agree. If an anti-Second Amendment person reads this and has a problem with it... exercise your First Amendment Rights and put that sign in your yard... "This Is A Gun Free Home." Yeah, right... let me know how you make out with that.
Just don't call me at 3:00 in the morning.
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