​Independence Day

Today we celebrate our nations independence from British rule. This independence was made possible by citizen-soldiers that brought their own firearms and ammunition.

Those same firearms and ammunition were perceived as a threat by the British, who made an unsuccessful attempt to confiscate them. Those firearms were in the possession of the people as tools to obtain food and as weapons to defend families against various threats from wildlife to hostile natives to the criminal element.

Times were different then. Those firearms were tools that were as critical to survival as the horses and plows they used to plant their crops or the axe they used to harvest lumber. They were a normal part of everyday life.

As part of everyday life their owners were proficient in their use. They were single shot arms that had to be reloaded by assembling the components; powder, patch and ball, then percussion cap or frizzen pan charging. A hunter often only had one chance to harvest game before it ran off. Many hunters knew making that one shot count meant eating meat that night or not.

As our nation grew our society changed. We moved from rural areas to cities as manufacturing was replacing farming. Hunting became less of a necessity and more of a hobby. Firearms also became less of a necessity.
Then our nation became contentious and tensions rose to the point that a civil war broke out. As people were drafted to support the war it became evident that our societal evolution had a hidden consequence, marksmanship had dropped off.

This led to the birth of the NRA in New York and the range at Creedmore. The primary purpose was marksmanship. Youth marksmanship programs began shooting. Schools had firearms training and gun ranges.
One could look at that as a clandestine plot by the government to make sure the next military draft got people who could accurately shoot a rifle as they showed up for service.

This same principle is why the FCC protects the amateur radio frequency bands. The nation, actually the world, has amateur radio operators who pay for, and maintain, radio equipment that they eagerly operate in disciplined networks during emergencies. The world has an emergency communications network paid for by the unpaid volunteers who will operate that network.

Fast forward to today.

Our world has drastically changed from the days of hunting to survive. Its population has exploded. Urban areas have spread so far that the distinction between one city to be next is only discerned by sineage. People are crammed into high density housing.

Gone are the days when the community came together to build homes and barns for their neighbors. The neighbor helping neighbor has been replaced by government welfare as poverty has increased. Along with increased poverty come increased violence.

Firearms have a different purpose today. Rather than being used to acquire food and defend against animal predators they are for defense against criminals.

Some in our world believe the need for firearms has long passed. Unfortunately, the criminal elements in our world will always have firearms. Our failure to stop alchohol during prohibition and drugs today expose the inability to effectively prohibit anything.

There is one aspect of our great nation that makes us unique. It wasn’t formed by one nations conquest of another. It was formed by the people who took up arms against an oppressive government. The citizens fought for self rule. They formed independent states that joined together to make what we now recognize as The United States of America.

They wrote a bill of rights and constitution that clearly indicate this nation is “by the people and for the people” sending a message that its citizens are not and will never become subjects.

It is this concept that has driven the protection of the 2nd amendment. It is this concept that drives the protection of our right to own any number or type of firearm we want. I know people who own cannons, tanks and so on.

We have people who have the resolve to take up arms against the government. In recent past ranchers stood against armed BLM agents over cattle grazing rights proving it is possible to do as the founding fathers said.
​
As we watch the parades and fireworks we should contemplate the sacrifice of those who came before us. We must also recognize the example they set for us and the responsibility laid at our feet.