A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
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Senator Joe Manchin, a democrat of West Virginia, says there was confusion about the gun control bill he and Senator Pat Toomey, a republican of Pennsylvania, introduced in the US Senate recently. It, of course, failed. 
We have warned our readers umpteen times that the leftists are relentless in their grab and grasp for power -- and so it is with gun control.
In a television interview a few days ago, Senator Manchin said he would re-introduce the bill (or a bill similar to the original) that would require criminal and mental health background checks for gun buyers at shows and online. He appeared convinced that once senators read the bill they will vote in support of it.
The first thing that crossed my mind when I saw this interview was: "What was the Senator smoking?" It is clear as a bell that once senators actually read the bill, more will refuse to support it than refused the first time around. A NEW bill, however, might be something else, altogether. In any event, gun owners would be wise to stay abreast of the gun control debate going on "sub-Rosa" in the Senate -- and elsewhere -- on Capitol Hill.
It is also clear that the bill will not be introduced immediately. Obama and his henchmen need time to beat, bash, and coerce those in the Democratic Party who had the temerity to vote against the Manchin/Toomey Bill. They will need to be brought back in line by whatever threats -- or bribes -- are necessary. (Remember how Obama got support for Obamacare???)
So, it is back to the barricades for gun owners in America. Once again we must man freedom's ramparts to defend our own constitution from the very people who gave us an oath, swore on the Bible, not to do exactly what they are doing.
It is a sad day for America -- and a sad day for the world -- when Americans have to defend themselves -- and their rights -- from their very own government.
Consider this: "According to a pair of recent polls, for the first time since the 9/11 terrorist hijackings, Americans are more fearful their government will abuse constitutional liberties than fail to keep citizens safe." SOURCE: http://www.wnd.com/2013/04/americans-fear-government-more-than-terror/
Even after the Boston bombings, the article goes on the say: "the polls indicate Americans are hesitant to give up any further freedoms in exchange for increased “security.”
Look. Even before the Declaration of Independence was written American colonists were reluctant to go against their government. In that case it was King George and the British Parliament. The colonists bent over backwards, at least in their own estimation, to avoid a confrontation with the crown. But it did not work. It never does when dealing with a tyrant and/or a despot.
Dealing with Obama, and his Marxist/Labor/Democrat Party, modern day Americans have finally arrived at the very same conclusion their ancestors did in the 1700's, which is: this far -- and NO FARTHER!
By now we are all aware of something one of our esteemed Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, wrote: “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
I'd like to take Franklin's statement a bit farther and quote Edward Gibbon: “In the end, more than freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all – security, comfort, and freedom. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free and was never free again.” -- Edward Gibbon (27 April 1737 – 16 January 1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament.
No matter how many times I read the quote above, I catch myself nodding my head in agreement with the sentiments of Gibbon. It is as though someone held a mirror up to all of America and in it we can clearly see our current reflection.
I invite you to re-read the Gibbon's statement above and instead of the words "Athenians" and "Athens" insert the words "Americans" and "America." No further explanation is necessary, is it?
Does it not send cold chills up and down your spine?
Here's another observation by Edward Gibbons. It was made concerning the Roman Empire but, much as the quote above, this one, too, looks as if it were actually describing modern day America:
“The five marks of the Roman decaying culture:
Concern with displaying affluence instead of building wealth;
Obsession with sex and perversions of sex;
Art becomes freakish and sensationalistic instead of creative and original;
Widening disparity between very rich and very poor;
Increased demand to live off the state.”
― Edward Gibbon
SOURCE: http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/11628.Edward_Gibbon
Another quote from Gibbons comes to mind as I reflect on the under-handed way so much of our legislation is rammed through Congress these days. It is this: “Corruption, the most infallible symptom of constitutional liberty.”
It would seem corruption is something we who live in a constitutional representative republic must expect -- and guard against -- incessantly.
© J. D. Longstreet
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