Part II - Power to the people

Again, I am pleased to post part II of the thoughts of our guest writer "Eisenbruder":

Power to the People Part II
by A. Eisenbruder

When the British marched on Lexington and Concord
they were dressed in the regal red of the Empire. Upon
their brows they wore the death’s head cap, skull and
bones, which exclaimed Death or Glory. These were
serious soldiers who had not many years earlier stood
shoulder to shoulder with some of the American
colonists’ finest men against the French and Indian
forces. Now they marched to capture ‘rebel’ munitions.
Those who stood against them were the local farmers
and merchants, the men ready “in a minute” to defend
their rights. They were ready to die and to cause
death in the defense of town, family, and freedom.
Though not well trained in the art of war they were
also serious men who brought their own muskets and
rifles to form a line against the redcoats. Some
modern scholars have tried to imply that the
revolution was merely the attempt of wealthy
capitalist elite landowners to set up a government
that would make them more wealthy. The farmers who
waited for the advancing British were middle class or
lower, and surely had much to lose in this bold
venture. Lands, savings, and their very lives.
They knew their weapons intimately. Their firearms
provided game for food, but most importantly
protection. Protection from marauders of any ilk,
whether Indian or white.
These same farmers with their own firearms continued
to enlist to battle the British until freedom was
purchased. Many paid the ultimate sacrifice for the
freedom I and my family enjoy today.
When amendments were added to the Constitution, it
was recognized as a reality by the framers, that the
people had a right to bear arms to protect and defend
themselves whether from the hostile forces present in
any society, or the tyranny of government that refused
to acknowledge the will of the people. The framers did
not say, “Farmer John, now that we are a nation you
can turn in your firearms. The constables will
safeguard us now”. On the contrary, they sought to
protect Farmer John’s right to bear arms. The
constable can’t live at your house or business to
protect you from the bad 'uns. You are the first line
of defense.
Amazingly today, the government says in times of
disaster the people must be prepared. They talk of 72
hour kits, and first aid training, blood donations
etc. They tell us that in an emergency you can’t
really depend on governmental agencies so you should
have some emergency food and water to sustain you
until help arrives. But some don’t want you to have
what the framers knew was essential in any
catastrophic emergency. The right to bear arms for
home defense. As I related in my last attempt, neither
the National Guard nor the local police can protect
everyone in an emergency.
Fortunately the Constitution framers could see the
value of such an amendment for the future generations
of America. No government can lightly dismiss American
gun owners. We’ve got the Constitution on our side.
Sadly, there are some who think this right is
outmoded. “The framers never envisioned machine guns,
tanks, jet fighters, yada yada.” But they did. They
knew that progress would take place in all fields of
human endeavor, including firearms. They had cannons,
grenades, ships of the line and so forth. They would
never be so ignorant as to conclude we’d be using
muskets forever. These intelligent souls understood
the nature of man, and that’s why a three branch check
and balance government was set up. It ensured that the
people were represented and couldn't be overwhelmed by
one powerful branch.
The greatest check and balance is the second
amendment. It gives real power to the people who can
check the government. A well armed population cannot
be easily subjugated by foreign or domestic hostiles.
The right to bear arms is essential to a free
society.