One Nation, Under God

"People crushed by law, have no hopes but from power. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws; and those who have much to hope and nothing to lose, will always be dangerous."-- Edmund Burke, Irish political philosopher

Dear Mr. President,

I am just a regular US citizen, not likely picked out of a crowd, with no substantial success, no great awards to my name, and certainly not a lot of money. So why should you listen to me? Because I am no less important than you. I have as much value, and as many constitutional rights as every other US citizen, whether they are a company CEO, a firefighter, a doctor, or a substitute teacher.

I write because I feel my inalienable rights are being challenged. The second amendment in our Constitution entitles us to the right to bear arms. Burke also says in a later address that "the people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." Such a delusion being paraded is that guns are killing people, and the solution to the seemingly increasing amount of shootings is to ban guns.

Are you aware on the same day as the Sandy Hook shooting, a man in Chenpeng village in Henan province, (China) slashed 22 children and one adult with a knife? (Full story here.) Are you further aware that in Linchang Village school, again in China, a man killed 7 children and 2 adults with a meat cleaver? (Full story here.) But let's focus specifically on the United States for a minute.

Remember the story about the "zombie man" in Miami, Florida? "Rudy Eugene, 31, was killed by a police officer after Eugene's 18-minute attack on a homeless man."
"'He attacked me,' Ronald Poppo said of his assailant in a police recording obtained by the affiliate and broadcast Thursday. 'He just ripped me to ribbons. He chewed up my face. He plucked out my eyes. Basically that's all there is to say about it.'
Poppo, who is now blind, said he initially thought Rudy Eugene, 31, was 'a good guy.'"

According to this CNN report, the autopsy revealed that Eugene had Marijuana in his system, not "bath salts," which was initially suspected, no other drugs, perscription or otherwise. So to break it down, this man was high on pot, and viciously attacked an innocent person, eating 75% of his face and causing him to be blind. Yet Marijuana was recently legalized in Washington and my home state of Colorado. A life was taken an many were irreversably altered, but I don't see any steps being taken towards outlawing the drug.

Of course, with that last story, you're probably thinking "well, one person died, it wasn't a massacre like the shootings in Colombine, Sandy Hook, Aurora, Virginia Tech, etc." And you're right. But regardless of how many lives are lost, injured, or changed, none are more important that another. Why are the lives of many worth more value than the life of one? People kill people more often than is reported, and the bottom line is, if a person wants to kill another, they will find the means. It is against the law to take another life in innocence, so do you think the murderer will respect one law while violating another? "Hmm, I would like to victimize innocent people, but there's a law against guns, so I'll honor that and find another weapon."--said no criminal ever.

So let's stop blaming guns for the actions of others, because a gun doesn't kill any more than a pen writes or a car drives. All must be operated and used by a person. Don't ban guns, teach people. I work as a substitute teacher, and recently I subbed at an elementary school that had the motto "let's be kind," and they met regularly in assemblies where they discussed how to be kind and treat each other with love and respect. They even had time where the kids were encouraged to raise their hands and share stories of when a classmate did something kind for them. In 2 years of subbing, I have never before or since been to a school with better behaved or kinder children and staff. No laws can compensate for the failure to teach morals. Rather than giving speeches about the dangers of guns and proposals to ban them, why don't we hear about working together to build a stronger nation. To love and respect people. To serve. The human mind is wired to respond positively to encouragement and negatively to punishment. Setting restrictions and negative consequences are nearly innefectual in comparison to teaching morals and guidelines and giving the freedom of choice. How many Americans since this legislation was put on the table for discussion do you think went out and bought themselves guns?

People need to be loved, taught not infantilized. I am certain that if the government tries to outlaw guns or make aquiring them so hard it's next to impossible, they will have a revolution on their hands. Wyoming has already revolted:

Wyoming lawmakers have proposed a bill to nullify any new federal restrictions on guns, and threatening to arrest any federal agents attempting to confiscate guns, mags, or ammo and charge them with a felony.
If passed, expect Wyoming’s population to literally double overnight.
Wyoming lawmakers have proposed a new bill that, if passed, would nullify any federal restrictions on guns, threatening to jail federal agents attempting to confiscate guns, ammunition magazines or ammunition.
The bill – HB0104 – states that “any federal law which attempts to ban a semi-automatic firearm or to limit the size of a magazine of a firearm or other limitation on firearms in this state shall be unenforceable in Wyoming.”

The federal government cannot trump the rights of the states. And to try to nationally outlaw guns or restrict size of a firearm magazine does just that.

I am also very bothered that "under God" was exempt from the inagural prayer: http://redflagnews.com/headlines/outrageous-obamas-inaugural-prayer-drops-under-god

Let's get back to the basics and remember the basis on which this country was build. Under God, with liberty and justice for all.