The Constitution of The United States |
Dean Garrison (born
1955) is a contemporary American author and crime fiction novelist.
He was born in Michigan, grew up in the Indiana, Illinois, and Texas, and received his B.A. degree from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.
He was born in Michigan, grew up in the Indiana, Illinois, and Texas, and received his B.A. degree from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.
Garrison is now a Crime Scene
Technician in West Michigan. His research in the fields of Crime Scene Investigation
and Shooting Reconstruction are widely published in forensic journals under the
name of D.H. Garrison, Jr.
“I feel a tremendous responsibility to write this article,
though I am a little apprehensive. Thinking about the possibility of anyone rising up
against our government is a frightening thing for many of us. I am not
Johnny Rambo and I will be the first to admit that I do not want to die.
The reason I feel compelled to write this, however, is
simply because I don’t think the average American is equipped with the facts. I
feel that a lot of American citizens feel like they have no choice but to
surrender their guns, if the government comes for them.
I blame traditional media sources for this mass brainwash
and I carry the responsibility of all small independent bloggers to tell the
truth. So my focus today is to lay out your constitutional rights as an
American and let you decide what to do with those rights.
About a month ago, I let the “democracy” word slip out in a
discussion with a fellow blogger. I knew better. Americans have been
conditioned to use this term. It’s not an accurate term and it never has been a
correct term to describe our form of government.
The truth is that the United States of America is a constitutional republic. This is similar
to a democracy, because our representatives are selected by democratic
elections, but ultimately, our representatives are required to work within the
framework of our Constitution. In other words, even if 90% of Americans want
something that goes against our founding principles, they have no right to call
for a violation of our constitutional rights.
If you are religious, you might choose to think of it this way: say that members of your congregation decide
that mass fornication is a good thing. Do they have the right to change the
teachings of your God? The truth is the truth. It doesn’t matter how many
people try to stray from it.
Did I just compare our founders to God? In a way I did, but
please note that I am not trying to insult anyone. For the purpose of the
American Government, our Constitution and the founders who wrote it are much
like God is to believers. It is the law. It is indisputable.
Our founders did not want a “democracy”, for they feared a
true democracy was just as dangerous as a monarchy. The founders were highly
educated people experienced in defending themselves against tyranny. They
understood that the Constitution could protect the people by limiting the power
of anyone to work outside of it much better than a pure system of popularity.
A system of checks and balances was set up to help limit
corruption of government and also the potential for an “immoral majority”
developing within the American People. We have forgotten in this country that
we are ultimately ruled by a Constitution.
Why is a democracy potentially just as dangerous as a
monarchy? Let’s look at something that Benjamin Franklin said because it
answers that question more fully and succinctly than I can.
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” --Benjamin Franklin
Even 230+ years ago, our founders were perceptive enough to
realize that democracy was a dangerous form of government. How so? Because the
citizens of a country can become just as corrupt as any government. We have
seen evidence of this throughout history. Ask Native Americans and
African-Americans if this population can become corrupt.
I think today, we are seeing evidence of what Franklin was
trying to tell us. Just because a majority of people may support certain ideas,
it does not mean that those ideas are
just. In simple terms, just because most Americans love our president and
voted for him does not mean that he has the power to go against our
constitutional rights.
Next I’d like to review the text of the Second Amendment. It
is very clear. This is the law of this land. So when Senator Feinstein or
President Obama talk about taking your guns, you need to think about something.
Are they honoring their sworn oath to uphold the Constitution?
Second Amendment |
This is a pretty clear statement. The fact is that it
took 232 years for the Supreme Court to even rule on this amendment because it
has never been successfully challenged.
In 2008 a case of Columbia v. Heller
the Supreme Court ruled that a handgun ban in Washington D.C. was
unconstitutional. One also has to take this into consideration.
The Supreme
Court supports your right to own guns. If you want to research this decision
further you can start there.
Those who try to debate the spirit of the 2nd Amendment are truly no different than people who will try to take Biblical quotes out of context to try and support their immoral decisions.
The founders were very clear on the intent of the 2nd Amendment.
Let me share a few quick quotes here:
“The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” --Thomas Jefferson
“Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable . . . the very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference – they deserve a place of honor with all that is good.” --George Washington
“The Constitution shall never be construed….to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” --Samuel Adams
I could find hundreds of quotes like these. This country was
built on The Right to Bear Arms. It was built on the rights of an individual to
bear arms, regardless of what his government, or neighbor, happened to think.
This is crystal clear.
Ironically, the people who voice their opinions against
this right have their free speech protected by your guns. Without guns in this
country, all other amendments become null and void, simply because “We the
People” will lose our power of enforcement.
We need to keep this in mind as our “representatives” try to push gun bans. I don’t care if 99% of people are in support of gun bans (which is far from the case), it is a violation of our constitutional rights, plain and simple.
A constitutional republic protects the rights of the
individual, even when their ideas are very much in the minority. If I were the
only person in America who believed in the 2nd Amendment, I would still be
within my rights to call upon it. You would all think I was insane and possibly
celebrate if I was gunned down, but in the end I would be the only true
American among us.
Our framers were very clear on this. If my government comes
to take my guns, they are violating one of my constitutional rights that is covered
by the 2nd Amendment.
It is not my right, at that point, but my responsibility, to
respond in the name of liberty. What I am telling you is something that many
are trying to soft sell, and many others have tried to avoid putting into
print, but I am going to say it. The time for speaking in code is over.
If they come for our guns, then it is our constitutional
right to put them six feet under. You have the right to kill any representative
of this government who tries to tread on your liberty. I am thinking about
self-defense, not talking about inciting a revolution.
Re-read Jefferson ’s quote. He talks about a “last resort.”
I am not trying to start a Revolt, I am talking about self-defense. If the day
for Revolution comes, when no peaceful options exist, we may have to talk about
that as well. None of us wants to think about that, but please understand that
a majority cannot take away your rights as an American citizen. Only you can
choose to give up your rights.
Congress could pass gun ban legislation by a 90%+ margin and
it just would not matter. I think some people are very unclear on this. This is
the reason we have a Supreme Court, and though I do not doubt that the Supreme
Court can also become corrupt, in 2008 they got it right. They supported the Constitution.
It does not matter what the majority supports, because
America is not a democracy. A constitutional republic protects the rights of
every single citizen, no matter what their “elected servants” say. A majority
in America only matters when the Constitution is not in play.
I just wrote what every believer in the Constitution wants
to say, and what every constitutional blogger needs to write. The truth of the
matter is that this type of speech is viewed as dangerous and radical or even subversive,
and it could gain me a world of trouble that I do not want. But it is also the
truth.
To make myself clear, I will tell you again. If they come
for your guns, it is your right to use those guns against them and to kill them,
if you must. You are protected by our Constitution.
Most of the articles I am reading on the subject are trying
to give you clues without just coming out and saying it. I understand that
because certain things in this country will get you on a list that you don’t
want to be on. I may well be on that list. This blog is small and growing so I
may not be there yet, but I have dreams. I also have my own list of subversives
and anyone who attempts to deny my constitutional rights is on that list.
I am not the “subversive” here. It is the political representatives who are
threatening to take away my inalienable rights that are. If they come to take my guns and I leave a few of them wounded
or dead, and I somehow survive, I have zero doubt that I will spend a long time
in prison and may face an execution. But I would much rather be a political
prisoner than a slave.
If I go down fighting, then I was not fighting to harm these
human beings. I was simply defending my liberty and yours. It is self-defense
and it is what our country was built on. We won our freedom in self-defense. We
would not be ruled by a tyrannical government in the 1770′s and we will not be
ruled in 2014 by a tyrannical government. There is no difference.
This is a case of right and wrong. As of now, the 2nd Amendment
stands. It has never been repealed. If Feinstein or Barack have a problem with
the Constitution, then they should be removed from office. They are not
defending the Constitution which they have sworn an oath to protect. It is
treasonous to say the least. They would likely say the same about me, but I
have the Constitution, the founders, and the Supreme Court on my side. They
only have their inflated egos.
I am not writing this to incite people. I am writing this in
hopes that somehow I can make a tiny difference. I have no idea how many of my
neighbors have the will to defend their constitutional rights. 2%? 20%? I am
afraid that 20% is a high number, unfortunately. When push comes to shove, many
people may give up and submit to being ruled. I believe that our government is
banking on this.
I would hope that our officials come to realize that,
regardless of our numbers, we still exist because they are calling Patriotic
Americans to action. They are making us decide if we want to die free, or submit
to their rule.
I cannot tell you where you should stand on that. I do know
that it may make the difference between living a life of freedom, or slavery.
You must start thinking about this, because I believe that
the day is coming soon and I personally believe it has already been planned.
Not all conspiracy theories are hogwash. They may throw down the gauntlet soon
and my suggestion is that you prepare yourself to react.
I mean no disrespect to our elected officials, but they need
to understand that “We the People” will not be disarmed. If they proceed, then
it is they who are provoking us and we will act accordingly. We are within our
rights to do so.
For those who are in support of taking the guns, you need to
ask yourself a very important question, and I am not just talking about the
politicians, although if you support them, you have chosen your side.
Are you willing to die to take my guns?”
--Dean Garrison
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Memoirs From Nam is YOUR blog and it needs YOUR voice.
I agree with everything you said with one exception. The Constitution is amendable. There could be a Constitutional Convention to repeal the 2nd Amendment. If it were to pass, then it would be legal to disarm the populous. Other than that you were spot on. As a veteran I often ask when my oath of enlistment ends. I have yet to come to a point in my life when it has felt over.
ReplyDeleteOn spot here !
ReplyDeleteLater Dee [815th/102nd Cbt Eng US Army Rt. ]
Thank you for this. It was so well stated. I will be passing this on with hope that those who need to read it the most will, and those of us who already agree will be fortified.
ReplyDeleteDean, There are an uncounted number of us who are solidly in agreement with you regarding the Second Amendment and the Constitution. Being a Constitutional Republic, we (those of us who own guns) may be in the minority and, numerically, we probably are but we are a large minority. Most of us ask ourselves, "What will I do if they come to take my guns?". Many of us will say to ourselves, "I will fight them.". But the truth is that we do not really know what we will do. We have families and loved ones and the question is whether we will give up arms to protect them or will we use our arms to protect them.
ReplyDeleteI posted a topic on my website on the subject of gun control in February of 2013 that is worth reading:
http://www.mosinguy.com/about_gun_control.htm
I also posted a "Memoirs From Nam" writing relevant to the Second Amendment Militia:
http://memoirsfromnam.blogspot.com/2014/08/homeland-militia-survey-by-james-hathorn.html
A majority of us are isolated from each other which makes us individually weaker because we may feel we are fighting for our rights alone. There are VSOs (Veterans' Service Organizations) where vets are organized but they are independent of each other and not specifically dedicated to the militia and the Second Amendment is only a part of their agendas.
Your writing here is inspirational and hopefully it will get deserved attention by those who feel uncertain where they stand.
The Founders of the Constitution were directly aware of the tyranny of a Monarchy and a democracy. Every day brought the risk of confiscation of weapons and subsequently any rights conferred by the higher power. Americans today are not aware of the risk because it is cloaked by a false legitimacy by the government that the Constitution is a "living" document that can be changed at will. The statists have sneaked up on us for over a hundred years, kind of like boiling a frog starting with cold water and gradually bringing it to a boil. Well, the water is starting to boil.
Using the force of arms to protect our rights is the last way I would ever consider as long as there is hope that all other means will bring us back from the brink of a hard tyranny. I do not want to use weapons against any of my fellow Americans and I will not unless there is a direct threat. It terrifies me to think that it might come to that; however, the great men that wrote the Constitution and then the Bill of Rights knew it might be necessary. They had the strength to use arms to guarantee our liberty then. Do we have the strength to protect it now?
As you say Dean, we have to think about the unthinkable. It is probably far fetched to think our own elected officials will come to our door and attempt to take away our weapons legally owned but they are giving us reason to be concerned.
God bless America and give us the strength to work through this soft tyranny by peaceful means.