The Second Amendment to the Constitution 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.”
‘Militia’ did not refer to the military or law enforcement. The founders’ ‘militia’ meant every man, woman and child should both have a weapon and know how to use it to repel and defeat an over-zealous and power-hungry state.
The right to protect the person and property was God-given, not government-granted. The removal of God-given rights was to be over the dead bodies of patriots. (Throughout the course of the Revolutionary War, an estimated 6,800 Americans were killed in action, 6,100 wounded, and upwards of 20,000 were taken prisoner. Historians believe that at least an additional 17,000 deaths were the result of disease, including about 8,000–12,000 who died while prisoners of war.)
Founders believed the citizen was primarily responsible to safeguard his family and property, not the government. No society can afford to hire enough police or military to insure personal safety or liberty. It takes seconds to shoot an intruder versus 10-15 minutes or more for a law enforcement response.
Concealed weapon permits, gun type limitations, registration of guns and background checks for purchasing ammunition are all glaring violations of the 2nd amendment. Again, the amendment was written to remind government to not infringe upon the people’s right to keep and bear arms.
The Sheriff is the local official with the greatest authority. Rather than go along to get along with an undermining of the Second Amendment he should honor his oath of office to ‘Defend the Constitution’ and declare the jurisdiction a Second Amendment Sanctuary County as originally written and intended.
County Supervisors offer no leadership if they cannot join the Sheriffs to stand with the same Constitution they took an oath to defend. Their passivity shows they are pawns of the state rather than representatives of the people.
Assemblyman James Gallagher’s recent video exposing the harassment endured by citizens to purchase ammunition actually concedes the more serious usurping of the authority of the citizens by the state. Though Gallagher is with the minority party he should proclaim the God-given rights wrought with patriots’ blood to be free from government intrusion and not be content to rightfully mock the state’s troubling of the citizens.
Patrick Henry in his speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention on June 5, 1778, said "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined.... The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun."
Joseph Story wrote in ‘Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, 1833’ that "The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them."
Samuel Adams at the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention in 1788 said, "The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
William Pitt in his speech in the House of Commons on November 18, 1783 said, "Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
This week, Virginians are confronting tyranny in their state. It is time to stand with the Constitution and oppose the flood of regulations robbing us of our rights. It is time to buy as many guns and as much ammunition as possible from sources off the grid while you still are able. It is time to remove representatives who violate their oath of office.
It’s your republic should you desire to keep it.
(Get Lou’s podcast at “No Hostages Radio” and his articles at nohostagesradio.com)
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