I know I spend a lot of time generating up pretty pictures, and I know I spend a lot of time discussing the merits of firearm ownership, and I know I spend a lot of time debunking the idiotic and bigoted arguments of the anti-rights nuts, and I know I collect a lot of interesting and useful statistics, arguments, and quotes to support the side of the pro-rights activists in America, but there is one elemental truth that is simply inescapable:
My rights are not subject to any polls, studies, statistics, opinions, or arguments. PERIOD.
It simply does not matter how many people, groups, organizations, or agencies support “gun control” – no number of people approving of the basic abrogation of human rights makes it appropriate or acceptable… or are you saying that if enough people were sanguine with it, we could start enslaving the blacks again?
My rights – and specifically my right to self-defense, my rights to own property, and my rights to engage in commerce – are not subject to your approval, and no argument will convince me to give them up. Best come to terms with that.
(This post inspired by Bob S.’ recent post on the same, and Lyle’s comment here.)
Dead on the mark. My rights are not given to me by a piece of paper, or the will of a body of elected persons. But by my Creator,what ever that may be. And, only that Creator can take them away, not the aformentioned body of elected persons. Who, get their power delegated to them by me. It is time we remind both ourselves, and the elected officals of that fact.
You sir, hit the nail on the head with that one. Your last line was the best.
By the way, I blog rolled you.
As I’m sure you can guess, I’m in total agreement here.
[...] rights are called rights for a reason | walls of the city. [...]
[...] Linoge My rights are not subject to any polls, studies, statistics, opinions, or arguments. [...]
[...] of the Day: 2011-02-06 February 6, 2011 by Jake From Linoge: My rights are not subject to any polls, studies, statistics, opinions, or arguments. [...]
On the flip side of this discussion, a lot of people overuse the words “My Rights…” to whine about not getting everything they want. A perfect example of this was even made into a joke in one of the ‘Police Academy’ movies as Guttenberg was Mirandizing the bad guys…”You have the right to remain silent, You have the right to an attorney, You have the right to free clothes and food, You have the right to free Cable TV”…
Seriously, I agree with you that we must always vigorously defend our rights by using every legal means to do so. Remember, even the Supreme Court can get it wrong by bowing down to transient popular political pressure (Dred Scott decision), and will correct itself in time. That’s why we have to stay informed and involved in the political process.
Thank your Linoge.
I find that the greatest disservice is that those with the least knowledge wish to dictate without thought or consideration.
@ Michael: Likewise, it is well within our capacities as living, breathing human beings to surrender our rights should we so choose to… but that decision, by definition, must be one made voluntarily and of our own free will.
The second we start allowing our rights to be dictated by public opinion, we are agreeing that it would be ok to enslave people because the majority agrees with it. That is not a road I will tread.
@ Groundhog: Thanks
. And I counter-blogrolled you (as with Jay, letting me know is often the best way to ensure I will).
@ Patrick: I am willing to wager a fair number more folks than the anti-rights cultists are comfortable with agree with me…
@ Alan J.: You will hear no disagreement from me over the modern misuse of the term “rights”… but one of the most basic elements of the concept I am attempting to describe with that word is the premise that they cannot be dependent upon other people being forced to involuntarily give something up to you in order for you to enjoy them, and the concept of self-defense is key to that. As with so many other words in the English language (for instance, “tolerance”), “rights” have been hijacked and misappropriated by those looking to dilute the concept and use it for their own purposes…
This is also something we must be mindful of always, lest we be sucked into a debate wherein we are pointlessly arguing about issues that are not the core disagreement.
@ Eck!: Or those who have no other consideration than their own laziness or desires.
I posted at Weerd:
“My rights are not subject to any polls, studies, statistics, opinions, or arguments. PERIOD.”
My rights are not subject to the specific words or even the very existence of the Constitution. My rights are given to me BY GOD. The constitution exists as a rule book to remind government the laws that they had better not break.
(Adding you to my blogroll…)
Well said, sir. It’s only February, and you may have already won the Internet quote of the year.
Also adding you to the reader/blogroll.
@ ViolentIndifference: Precisely true. My rights – all of them – would exist whether the Constitution was there to defend themselves or not. Granted, that document’s provisions are quite helpful in light of the continued assaults of the anti-rights cultists, but we are surely not dependent upon it.
And likewise!
@ gator: I can live with that
. Consider you added as well!
Great discussion and great comments!! How many crimes are prevented by the police? It’s a persons right and responsibility for personal defense. The police rarely arrive in time to affect the outcome of any crime, except to investigate.
And, unfortunately, the police are under no legal obligation to protect you or your family – a sad truth that even the Supreme Court has upheld. Yeah, they are good for “maintaining the peace” and all that, but when it comes to our individual security and safety, we are more than on our own.
[...] me, pointing and laughing.Allow me to make myself clear, for poor, persecuted Baldr’s case: I do not need polls to substantiate my position on individual rights, and I simply do not care what “public opinion” does or does not say. I am not the one [...]
[...] on something to think aboutAuricTech on sad panda alertsad panda alert | walls of the city on rights are called rights for a reasonViolentIndifference on In Honor of Carolyn McCarthypopular postsmotivation… to get a better-paying [...]
[...] my individual rights will continue to exist regardless of whether a majority of society likes them o…, it is generally far easier for me – and all pro-rights activists – when the majority [...]
[...] The right of self-defense can’t be abrogated by act of congress, or executive order, or even by popular vote. [...]