The "three inalienable rights" as enumerated in the Declaration of Independence. They are:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
It seems fitting that with the approach of the anniversary of that declaration that those words, which helped spawn a nation, be revisited in light of the current controversy around guns.
Sometimes, regardless of one's feelings about guns, guns are often necessary to protect those rights. Sometimes it takes millions of guns, sometimes it takes only one. But, it is certain that there are times when only guns will do the job. If a nation is being threatened and its citizens are being killed by its enemies, it is going to take guns, lots of guns, to take care of the bad people. If a person is being threatened with death or grievous bodily harm by others, sometimes only a gun will protect them. I won't insult your intelligence by giving examples. If you can't think of any you are either simple minded, disconnected with the world the rest of us occupy or just a gun hater. I can't help you with any of those, however I can assure you that there are times in which only access to a gun will prevent harm from coming to innocents. It isn't guaranteed, just like your seat belt, but it will most certainly be a big help.
While all of this may be blindingly obvious to most people, it does not seem to make a dent in the minds of most gun haters. To understand and accept the fact that people have the right to defend themselves and other innocents from evil people and evil deeds requires one to accept that the world is a messy, unpredictable and sometimes violent place. Wishing it was not so does not make the need for protection go away or become somehow invalid. That is what we call wishful thinking which should be left behind with other childhood beliefs as one assumes adulthood.
Well reasoned, logical and supportable argument does not make headway with people who have emotional and unrealistic attitudes about guns. Those people are afraid of guns. They don't understand guns or why anyone would like or want to have them. They think guns are dangerous, which is one of the few true thoughts they may have about guns, and hence, no one should possess one because they themselves, might get shot.
I must confess, I don't get this attitude. If gun haters were to get their way and make it totally illegal for anyone in the United States to own or possess a gun, why do they think that would make anything better? Do they think people who want guns to do bad things won't get guns and continue to do bad things? Do they think that making heroin and crack illegal has removed heroin and crack from our streets or society? Do they think a crack addict looking for money for his next pipe will give a shit if they may have to kill someone to get it? Do they think that knowing the law-abiding citizen won't be carrying a gun will make the criminal more mild, meek and gentle as he robs you and leaves you as another dead witness to his crime? Do they think a 90 pound female can defend herself against a determined 200 pound rapist? Do they think calling 911 as the psycho home invaders kick in the door will do the job?
No, they don't think this at all. They don't think this will happen to them. Maybe to some poor unfortunate who should have known better than to walk to her car in the dark after work, but, certainly not to them, and besides, they wouldn't be caught dead carrying a gun anyway.
Just like trying to convince a new-age science hater that homeopathic cures, acupuncture, Reiki and ancient Chinese folk cures don't work, or a bedrock fundamentalist that Jesus didn't ride around on dinosaurs, rational discussion will not convince a gun hater that guns are only benign tools that can be used for any purpose the gun's owner determines, whether that be for good or evil. For them, guns are bad, evil, scary and dangerous and they will forever fight your right to own or carry them to defend your inalienable rights.
Except when someone uses a gun to preserve theirs.
In the end, it is a free country and if the gun haters don't like guns, that's ok with me, but don't think you can tell the rest of us what we can and can't do to preserve and protect our inalienable rights. Grow up. Take responsibility for your lives and stay out of mine.
Posted with Blogsy