Of Children, Liberty, and the Right to Bear Arms

[t1m0thy]

I was going to post this when I wrote it a couple nights ago but the site went boom...

Tonight as I put my girls to bed and they laid their heads down and went to sleep I was struck by a thought that pierced me so deeply I felt the need to put it into words. Often in the realm of political struggle and legal battles to preserve our liberties we discuss philosophy and principle and we offer platitudes suited to further our cause, but in the midst of all our quotations of law, founding fathers, and men of reason we cannot lose sight of what gave men pause to discover the nature of man's rights and the cause which made men run into battle in the name of this notion we call individual liberty. I think, tonight, I saw more clearly than ever the tangible motive that provoked men to challenge kings and tyrants from the times of ancient Egypt to colonial America. It was not wealth or power these men sought; although they did wish to prosper...it was something far simpler and yet something not considered principle in the argument for freedom by many politicians and scholars.

Before I became a father I always talked of liberty and the rights of man but it was purely intellectual. I never really felt such passion as I do now to actively preserve the essential liberties granted to us by nature and secured by our Constitution. When I first held my daughter in my arms my whole world changed. As time passed and another beautiful little girl entered my life I began to ponder on not just the intellectual side of my belief but the reality of how eroded the concept of essential liberty has become in our country and what it might mean for the future of my children.

I often hear the arguments by those who seek to remove more and more freedom that I must think of the children and that we must keep them safe so please, if you will, hand over this right or that right. Then they return a little while later and request with aid of some tragic event if I would not mind handing over another liberty because after all you don't really need that and it would make our job so much easier to keep you and your family safe. Time and again the people of this country buy into that same line of thinking and willingly tighten the noose around our collective necks. Not many stop to think of where these requests will end or what they are giving up until it is too late. As I sit here tonight and feel my heart beating with such pride and love as a father for the two most precious people in the world to me and of my wife who is my life and love I cannot fathom handing their safety and well being over to another. It is this cause and this motive that I believe moved men to first perceive freedom and individual liberty.

In the end of our lives here in this existence what have we but the dirt which holds our remains? What is it that causes us to want to preserve our freedoms which we hold onto for yet a moment? Looking into the kind and innocent eyes of a daughter answers that question for me. Holding my wife and feeling the love I have for my family is what pushes me to action. Liberty should not just be for one generation but for all who follow behind us. It is not an idle task to endure but is a daily battle against those who would turn our emotion and our love of life and family into a cause that would destroy all that we hold dear. Know that the only thing that can keep all we treasure safe from the hands of tyrants and small minded men is the barrel of the gun that you hold pointed in the face of every such evil. Without the ability to protect our loved ones and our families there is no liberty. That is why I fight as passionately as I do for my right to bear arms. The root of my cause is not a love for wood and steel or a fetish for violence...it is and ever will be the endearment of that first glance into the eyes of a new human being that calls me, daddy.

[Evan]

Thank you for putting words to my emotions. My daughter turned five yesterday.

Our founding fathers had these same thoughts in mind when drafting our constitution. It wasn't about court cases, or law suits, or proving a point, it was about protecting ourselves and our families from any threat that may arise.

The problem that we have run into in this country is that we are expected to take care of those who don't care about themselves or the families they have taken the IRresponsibilty for.

I actually consider myself to be fairly liberal, but I feel that my own family is my first concern. If I have the time and resources to help others after that, then I will do so without reservation.

The reason I carry has nothing to do with protecting my rights. It has everything to do with protecting my family. That is why we have the right.

[shadowcat187]

Originally Posted by Evan

The reason I carry has nothing to do with protecting my rights. It has everything to do with protecting my family. That is why we have the right.

Absolutely agree with you.

My fiances mother gives me shit all the time about carrying until i bring up the fact that i carry to protect her daugther and grandsons. My first priority is to protect them.


tim id rep ya but gotta spread it around first. nice to meet you at the rally.

[MischaBurns]

AMEN!

tenchars

[Emptymag]

Well said.

I would guess we all would pretty much agree with you. (and those of us w/o children would understand what you are saying)
However, those who refuse to open their minds would likely respond with something like:

If your children are in danger, you should call the police.

All this talk about "rights" - what about MY RIGHT to feel SAFE?!!!

Tea party racist!

Having a gun in your home means your girls are ten bazillion times more likely to...

Blah Blah Blah

[MischaBurns]

on second thought, can this be stickied? i vote for sticy

[wa3ra]

Well said, rep inbound. My miracle guy is 5 years old, too.

One of our founding fathers said , and obviously I'm paraphrasing here...

If the reset button needs to be hit, and the shit has got to hit the fan, let it be during my time and on my watch, so that my son can live a life of peace and freedom.


I just pray every day that he has his transplant, and it is successful, before anything truly bad happens. I have faith that we can fix this mess through the ballot box, but if not, I'll meet you at the bridge.

[snakeman21]

Originally Posted by MischaBurns

on second thought, can this be stickied? i vote for sticy

I second that... Sticky this thread!

[mike_yorkPA]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

Well said.

I would guess we all would pretty much agree with you. (and those of us w/o children would understand what you are saying)
However, those who refuse to open their minds would likely respond with something like:

If your children are in danger, you should call the police.

All this talk about "rights" - what about MY RIGHT to feel SAFE?!!!

Tea party racist!

Having a gun in your home means your girls are ten bazillion times more likely to...

Blah Blah Blah

very well put Tim, i do not have any daughters or sons, as i plan to one day but the people i live with are the reason i carry, i love my 4 and 5 year old cousins and take care of them like they were my daughters and will do anything to protect them, same with my mother, father, brother and the rest of my family and friends.

[andrewjs18]

good write up, Tim...as I told you when we were chatting the other night.