“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness – That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the Governed.”
This month of July, as we do every year, we celebrate the great document, The Declaration Of Independence. It reads on to list the oppressions and offenses by the British government and ends by stating, “For support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.”
The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States are the founding documents of our country. The Declaration of Independence was the moral vision that preceded and set the tone for the formation of the Constitution. Three branches of government were formed—Congress to make laws, Judicial to interpret Laws, and Executive to execute the laws.
Just this month, the Supreme court ruled on the second amendment of the Constitution, upholding the right of individuals to bear arms that states, “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.” This simply means we have a right to own guns. However, as I understand it, there are areas in America where gun ownership is prohibited and the National Rifle Association plans on filing suit in those areas. Thank goodness there are still people out there fighting for the freedom to protect ourselves according to the Constitution. Yet sadly, not many.
For me, one of the most outstanding features of the Declaration of Independence is the phrase that states, government DERIVES its powers from the “consent” of the governed. The question has always been for me, if I don’t give consent, where is the power derived from? One might suggest from elected candidates. But less than half the citizenry vote in elections. Less than half give their consent for all the governing laws, policies, and edicts.
Let’s say, for example, that I’m a law-abiding citizen and some departmental agency of government makes a policy or issues an edict restricting some area of my life and infringing upon my freedom. If no consent is given, where is the power to enforce derived from?
I personally find the erosion and intrusion pervasive from the tax supported school system to the Department of Motor Vehicles and other departments. The thousands of city, county and state departments make and enforce rules at the point of a gun or threat of a gun for compliance of regulations that are treated as law, passed on behind closed doors, frequently by persons so ignorant of the U.S. Constitution most probably never read it. And have little understanding and no respect for ownership of property.
Just this past week, I heard on the news a case of a man awakening to find a young man in his home robbing him. The owner of the property shot the intruder and the shooter was arrested and charged with a crime. Therefore, even though the Supreme Law of the land supports the notion that we have right to own guns to protect ourselves, it does not mean we will be exempt from imprisonment when one exercises that right.
Perhaps during this summer vacation month when we celebrate our independence, it’s time to stop and reflect upon the limited freedoms we really do have and mourn the loss of a large slice of individual freedoms at the hands of a centralized political government, which has abrogated without the consent of the governed.
Perhaps the current four dollars a gallon plus for gasoline with talk of going past seven dollars, might provide some an opportunity to stay off the highways, remain home, and reflect upon what we once had, all we have lost, how it happened and what to do about it. If such is the case, then that’s a good thing, coming from the chaotic situation.
Let Freedom Ring!
JUST ME,
AC
Permanent link to this post (708 words, estimated 2:50 mins reading time)
