For most of my life I've felt that the
2nd amendment was originally written to guarantee that I would be able to protect myself and my home from felons and those wishing to invade my domicile and do harm to us. I'm referring to those that sneak around in the dark and plot heinous crimes against the inhabitants. Certainly, that is an important consideration.
However, in recent years I have come to realize that those seeking to do me and my family harm, take away our rights and oppress us are not only the felons, thieves, drug addicts, rapists and murderers that we expect it is also the government officials and aspiring politicians that we have put into positions of power that seek to take away our liberties and freedoms. The biggest difference that I see between the felons and the elected officials is the straightforward honesty of the felons, as we know where they stand and what their intentions are. The officials extend their right hand to shake yours while the left hand is preparing to snap on the hand cuffs. Then you can kiss your firearms and freedoms good-bye as they begin to fall like stacked dominoes. Take away the right to bear arms first, then the rest should be easy. Soon the rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom to practice your faith, especially if you’re a Christian or a Jew, will be gone.
I am saddened, alarmed and angry in what I have seen in my relatively short age of 71; just 15 years ago I could never have imagined then what we're facing now. The prospects are frightening. I'll be departing this orb soon but I fear for my grandchildren and their children that they won't enjoy the freedoms that I have. I am a veteran as was my late father. We both served in wars and conflicts in foreign lands to defend those that could not defend themselves against oppressive regimes and despots.
Now that battle is here, right here on our own soil.
Personally, I don't give a damn what part of my membership fees went into who's pockets at the NRA. What I need, and what the NRA has been in the past for me, is an organization with the necessary skills, desires and legal resources to take a stand with those of us that feel the 2nd Amendment is more than just inked words on a historical document under glass.
Be wary, be alert and be prepared, my friends. I've walked away from some skirmishes in my lifetime and other than God's mercy and grace, that's probably why I'm still here. I'm old, I'm tired and there's not much gas left in the tank....but I have made my decision. I don’t mean to sound overly dramatic, but this is the hill I've chosen to defend.
Have you picked your hill yet?