1A, 2A, Don't Tread on Me

"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." U.S. Constitution, First Amendment

"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." U.S. Constitution, Second Amendment

These two amendments, 1A and 2A, form the basis of our liberty as Americans. In 1A, we have freedom of expression. That is, American citizens can say, study, write, publish, or gather to discuss, as well as present to the government, any fact or opinion they like. The only restriction is that the expression not be physically threatening, as for example yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. With this exception, the government must not abridge any free expression of the people.

The Second Amendment, 2A, also restrains the government. In this case the right to maintain and carry weapons, including but not limited to, firearms, is reserved to the people. The stated reason is to support a "well-regulated militia"; however "militia" may be interpreted, the right to have weapons is based on self defense.

Without the right to self defense, it is hard to imagine why we would need to defend the state. If we did not have a self-evident right to defend ourselves, what else could we defend? Anyway the state is an extension of self, and family, and community. Therefore 2A should be read as a right to bear arms in defense of our selves, families, neighbors, and homeland. State laws typically comply with this reasoning.

Indeed, without a right to self defense, it is hard to make sense of the Declaration of Independence' words, that "life" is an "inalienable right". All organisms defend themselves- that is, if they want to survive.

All men should be able and ready to defend themselves, that is if we want to speak and act freely. Our precious right of free expression, as a free state, relies on the ability to defend it. In brief: guns give freedom.

As for me, in America I have the freedom to burn a Qur'an, or a Bible, or a Flag for that matter; and the right to carry a weapon backs me up. Without weapons, I have nothing to do but submit to the "politically correct"; with a weapon, and with the weapons of my neighbors around me, I can calmly and fearlessly speak my mind.

To those who hotly complain against the right to bear arms, I ask: who protects you? Is it not the thousands of men (and women) who bear arms in your stead? Is it not those unsung and by you unappreciated armies of gun-bearers, who stand and fight, and sometimes die, for you? One of the greater ironies of American life is that pacifists are protected by gun-bearers.

I am speaking of police officers, and air marshals, and soldiers and sailors and Marines, and armed civilians also: all those who do "keep and bear arms", ready to defend this nation and your life. Please take a moment from your pacifistic preaching to remember them, who fight so you do not have to.