In recent weeks the debate over the reach, definition and original intent of the 2nd Amendment has been re-ignited yet again. In the wake of the horrible events of Sandy Hook, our nation is soul searching in an attempt to balance rights against security. As much as I would love to dive into the absurdity that is the current proposal from the President and the overall 2nd Amendment discussion nationwide. I would only be mentioning part of the larger war on our rights as a people.
Over the past decade we have seen our personal liberties slowly taken away by an overreaching and dictatorial federal government with no respect for the rights and/or liberties of its citizens. In 2008 a President was elected who promised to right the system. Instead over the last 4 years we have seen an acceleration in the systematic destruction of our rights.
We have seen the 1st Amendment re-interpreted to protect a religious hate group masquerading as a church protesting the funerals of soldiers and children. Yet, that same 1st Amendment has been ignored as the definition of “hate speech” grows ever larger. Our judicial system continues to try to “level the playing field” by slowly but surely inching towards criminalizing offensive speech.
In regards to our 2nd Amendment rights, this can only be viewed as the next volley in the total assault on our constitution rights. All branches of our government have at every opportunity weakened our constitution; making it say what they want it to say. Whenever one attempts to defend this amendment it rarely ends with civility, usually devolving to a shouting match. Our “leaders” constantly discuss the 2nd Amendment through the lens of what is needed for hunting. Unfortunately, there is no mention of hunting in said amendment. Instead it says ”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.” This can rightly (and historically) be interpreted with a two fold meaning. 1) So that in times of national duress a militia can be raised instantaneously by the people of the people and 2) In the event our government becomes dictatorial and takes our rights away (sound familiar?) we can take our government and country back. This is yet another example of trying to change the meaning of a constitutional guarantee.
The 4th and 5th Amendments have also endured a relentless onslaught. The FBI is continuously trying to push the boundaries around the 4th Amendment and luckily the last attempt (which made it to SCOTUS) was struck down. In regards to the 5th Amendment, it received its last notable trampling when Anwar Al Alaki (an American citizen) was killed while riding in a convoy across the Yemeni desert. All because he was labeled a terrorist, our President was able to act as judge, jury and executioner. Now our government hid behind the small clause in the constitution that mentions “public danger”. Ill leave you to decide if a man riding in a convoy through the desert is a public danger. Regardless of what he may have said, he was protected under the 1st Amendment.
This current fight over the 2nd Amendment is but a canary in the mine. We the people are slowly losing our government to those who would twist it to do their bidding. We are losing the Union which has stood for over 200 years. It is enduring an attack against its very soul. The question is can we save it or does it have to be born anew to flourish?
Over the past decade we have seen our personal liberties slowly taken away by an overreaching and dictatorial federal government with no respect for the rights and/or liberties of its citizens. In 2008 a President was elected who promised to right the system. Instead over the last 4 years we have seen an acceleration in the systematic destruction of our rights.
We have seen the 1st Amendment re-interpreted to protect a religious hate group masquerading as a church protesting the funerals of soldiers and children. Yet, that same 1st Amendment has been ignored as the definition of “hate speech” grows ever larger. Our judicial system continues to try to “level the playing field” by slowly but surely inching towards criminalizing offensive speech.
In regards to our 2nd Amendment rights, this can only be viewed as the next volley in the total assault on our constitution rights. All branches of our government have at every opportunity weakened our constitution; making it say what they want it to say. Whenever one attempts to defend this amendment it rarely ends with civility, usually devolving to a shouting match. Our “leaders” constantly discuss the 2nd Amendment through the lens of what is needed for hunting. Unfortunately, there is no mention of hunting in said amendment. Instead it says ”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.” This can rightly (and historically) be interpreted with a two fold meaning. 1) So that in times of national duress a militia can be raised instantaneously by the people of the people and 2) In the event our government becomes dictatorial and takes our rights away (sound familiar?) we can take our government and country back. This is yet another example of trying to change the meaning of a constitutional guarantee.
The 4th and 5th Amendments have also endured a relentless onslaught. The FBI is continuously trying to push the boundaries around the 4th Amendment and luckily the last attempt (which made it to SCOTUS) was struck down. In regards to the 5th Amendment, it received its last notable trampling when Anwar Al Alaki (an American citizen) was killed while riding in a convoy across the Yemeni desert. All because he was labeled a terrorist, our President was able to act as judge, jury and executioner. Now our government hid behind the small clause in the constitution that mentions “public danger”. Ill leave you to decide if a man riding in a convoy through the desert is a public danger. Regardless of what he may have said, he was protected under the 1st Amendment.
This current fight over the 2nd Amendment is but a canary in the mine. We the people are slowly losing our government to those who would twist it to do their bidding. We are losing the Union which has stood for over 200 years. It is enduring an attack against its very soul. The question is can we save it or does it have to be born anew to flourish?
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