Freedom from Fear

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is what our form of government guarantees we the people.


Everything the government does – whether in the nation’s name or by each of its several states – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a right we each have. It's inalienable.


Anything that restricts rights to those ends, is subject to control, regulation or elimination. Anything.

I am here to state that unfettered gun ownership is a clear and present danger to each of us. Therefore, some form of control or regulation is needed to restrict gun ownership to we the people. Acting in our name are law enforcement agencies and military institutions. Those should be exempt from elimination of arms. The we the people, however, are not exempt. If we do not govern gun use in our nation, then each gun is subject to removal from harming people.


That’s the simplicity of the law. The Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms to support a well-regulated militia. Where police or militia institutions are absent, we each have the right to bear arms. To what end? Well, to protect ourselves and our property from others who would take it from us. And to protect ourselves and families and communities from groups or nations bent on taking our freedoms from us. That’s it.


There is no guarantee to own guns for hobbies or sports. To preserve and protect, yes; to have fun with, no.


Middle ground is broadly available to find reasonable regulatory action with respect to guns. We don’t have to outlaw private ownership of guns simply because we have a social problem in which some people – a small minority – cannot control their actions and use guns to kill and injure others.


Having said that, we have a problem with gun violence.  If we are to continue to experience gun violence at unacceptable levels, then those who own guns have to figure out a method of reducing gun violence. If they don’t, we take the guns away.


Pretty simple. I don’t want your guns. I don’t think you want to shoot me. But I don’t own a gun and don’t contribute to the violence. Your having a gun creates the tension that leads to gun violence. Figure out how to keep others from running amok with guns, and you can keep your guns. Otherwise, no.


This is a root to freedom from fear. And that, friends, is also guaranteed by the Constitution.


August 6, 2019