Someone asked why I chose the topic I did for my first blog posting. It's simple. To me, the Bill of Rights, which is the first ten amendments to the Constitution, guarantees the right of the people, you and me, to keep and bear arms which is essential to maintaining the other rights protected, but not granted, by the Constitution (see Second Amendment).

All you have to do is look at history once more. The German people were a very civilized people and nation. Many great minds came out of Germany. There was a level of intellectual freedom, including free speech, but once the Nazis took power and the people were emasculated by the confiscation of their firearms, free speech went out the door along with many other rights and liberties, and in came terror and tyranny.

More to the point, I believe that the right to self-defense (which includes the right to protect my family, friends, and neighbors) is God-given. Throughout the Bible, God acknowledges and even promotes defending one's self, family, and nation. In the Old Testament, we read that the Hebrew men practiced with their weapons, which they owned individually -- the right to keep and bear arms! In the New Testament, Paul pointedly tells us that if a man does not take care of his family he is worse than an infidel and that he has denied the faith. Now, many say that this means putting a roof over the heads of your family, putting food on the table, clothing the family, etc. Well, isn't this what the infidels already do? So, why make such a big deal? After all, reading Hebrews 6 on what happens to someone who denies the faith tells me that there is more here.

The "more" is protecting your family, even if that means using force, including lethal force. To do otherwise is to actually state that life is not worth as much as God says it is. It says that you who refuse to defend your family from harm at all costs, believe that the lives of your family members aren't worth enough to defend them, whatever the costs. Remember, God thought our lives were worth the price of His Son, Jesus.

Now, understand me on this. I am not saying that anyone should go out and buy a firearm and use it willy-nilly. Rather, I'm saying that you should purchase a firearm for defense and then spend the time and money to learn how to use it properly, learn what your rights are in the area and state in which you reside when it comes to defending yourself, up to and including lethal force, and learning how to clean and maintain the firearm. I will tell you this -- the taking of a human life, even if it is some cretin, is not something to be done lightly. If it happens to you, it will change you for life as anyone can tell you who has had to do this -- police, soldiers, Airmen, sailors, Marines, civilians, etc. You never look at this quite the same way again.

Despite this, I would still defend myself, my family, and my loved ones. See, I took an oath once as a soldier. No where in that oath was there any statement or clause that said that my solemn oath would ever be null and void. So, I believe that I am still to be held to that oath -- that I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. I consider anyone who would attack my family, loved ones, and friends as an enemy, not only to them but enemy also to the Constitution.

More coming up tomorrow and this time it will be on the elections. Ought to be fun!

Iceman