Essay – March 4, 2010

Second Amendment -- Still 'The Palladium of Liberties'
"The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." --James Madison
James Madison's words regarding the "ultimate authority" for defending liberty (Federalist No. 46) ring as true today as in 1787, when he penned them.

Likewise, so do the words of his appointee to the Supreme Court, Justice Joseph Story, who wrote in his 1833 "Commentaries on the Constitution," "The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them."

In recent decades, the "enterprises of ambition" and "usurpation and arbitrary power" among Leftist politicians and their corrupt judicial lap dogs have become malignant, eating away at our Essential Liberty and our constitutional Rule of Law. This has never been more so than since the charlatan Barack Hussein Obama duped 67 million Americans into seating him in the executive branch.

Now more than ever, armed Patriots must stand ready, in the words of Patrick Henry, to "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel."

In June 2008, the Supreme Court, by a narrow 5-4 vote (Scalia, Alito, Roberts, Thomas and Kennedy), reaffirmed, in District of Columbia v. Heller, that the people's inherent right to keep and bear arms is plainly enumerated in our Constitution. The Court ruled that the Second Amendment ensures an individual right, that DC could not ban handguns, and that operable guns may be maintained in the homes of law-abiding DC residents.

This was an important decision affirming the plain language of our Second Amendment and its proscription against government infringement on "the right of the people to keep and bear arms."

However, Heller pertained to a federal district, and while our Bill of Rights has primacy over state and municipal firearm restrictions, a Supreme Court case to give judicial precedent to that primacy has yet to be decided.

In his dissenting opinion in Heller, 89-year-old Justice John Paul Stevens expressed concern that the case "may well be just the first of an unknown number of dominoes to be knocked off the table," should "the reality that the need to defend oneself may suddenly arise in a host of locations outside the home."

One might only hope!

This week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in McDonald v. Chicago, the next test case for the Second Amendment, which will determine if Chicago's onerous gun restrictions are in violation of the Constitution's plain language prohibition of such regulations by states and municipalities.

Otis McDonald, the 76-year-old plaintiff in this case, is challenging Chicago regulations that make it unlawful for him to keep a handgun in his home for self-defense.

My colleague Dave Hardy, a scholar of constitutional law, particularly the Second Amendment, summarized the arguments as follows: "McDonald v. Chicago illustrated the dichotomy between a government of laws and a government of men. One wing of the Court (perhaps the majority) looked to the essential enumeration of the right to arms; the other seemed to argue that since they, as powerful individuals, did not care for the right, or thought it was one of the Framers' bad ideas, they could disregard it."

That is an apt summary of how all cases are handled by the federal judiciary.

Typical of Leftmedia summations, The New York Times opined, "At least five justices appeared poised to expand the scope of the Second Amendment's protection of the right to bear arms."

Expand?

Only the most uninformed opinion would suggest that asserting the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms in Chicago is an expansion of the Second Amendment's scope. But considering the source...




Mr. McDonald's lawyers insist that the 14th Amendment's "privileges or immunities" clause ("no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States") is grounds for overturning Chicago's gun restrictions, and those of other states and municipalities across the our great nation.

Unfortunately, trying to establish a 14th Amendment precedent in and of itself undermines the authority of our Constitution's Bill of Rights.

Recall that there was great debate among our Founders concerning the need for any Bill of Rights. It was argued that such a specific enumeration of rights was redundant and unnecessary to the Constitution and that listed (and unlisted) rights might then be construed as malleable rather than unalienable, as amendable rather than "endowed by our Creator" as noted in the Constitution's supreme guidance, the Declaration of Independence."

To that end, Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist No. 84, "I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and to the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. ... For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do?"

Madison prevailed, however, and for clarity he introduced a preamble to the Bill of Rights: "The Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution..."

In other words, the Bill of Rights was enumerated to ensure against encroachment on our inherent rights. Read in context, the Bill of Rights is both an affirmation of innate individual rights (as noted by Thomas Jefferson: "The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time..."), and a clear delineation of constraints upon the central government.

Note that the Second Amendment is unique in the Bill of Rights in that it expressly asserts the "right to keep and bear arms" is "necessary," more so than just important, to a "free state."

But as feared by those who argued such rights should not be recorded, the "despotic branch," as Jefferson presciently dubbed the judiciary, has endeavored to limit those enumerated rights by way of convoluted and fraudulent precedents.

Likewise, citing the 14th Amendment's "privileges or immunities" clause suggests the Second Amendment was and remains amendable. That, of course, is an egregious affront to Essential Liberty -- but that's the way the game is played today.

Currently, 41 states issue concealed handgun carry permits, or don't require them at all, for law-abiding citizens. Seven other states allow local municipalities to determine gun restrictions; Illinois and Wisconsin do not even allow that option.

Much of the debate about the need to infringe upon the right to bear arms is framed in terms of safety. Gun-control advocates argue that more guns equal more crime. Those advocating for more lenient gun laws argue that more guns equal less crime. Only one of these diametrically opposed views can be true.

While the latter group is factually and demonstrably correct, basing Second Amendment arguments on the issue of safety is as fallacious as attempting to assert the 14th Amendment argument.

In an editorial this week, the conservative Washington Times opined, "The year after the Supreme Court struck down the District of Columbia's handgun ban and gun-lock requirements, the capital city's murder rate plummeted 25 percent. The high court should keep that in mind..."

No, they should not.

After all, violence is a cultural problem, not a gun problem, and certainly not a Second Amendment problem.

What each member of the Supreme Court must only keep in mind is the plain language of the Constitution, the Second Amendment and the First Principle of his or her oath: "To support and defend our Constitution," as should everyone who has taken that oath.

Accordingly, the High Court should find that the gun restrictions in Chicago, and by extension, those in any other state, are in direct violation of the inherent rights of the people "to keep and bear arms."

Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus et Fidelis!

Mark Alexander
Publisher, PatriotPost.US

2 Brazilian Soldiers

2 Brazilian Soldiers



The Dept of Defense briefed the president this morning...

They told President Obama that 2 Brazilian soldiers were killed in Iraq .

To everyone's surprise, all the color drained from Obama's face. Then he collapsed onto his desk, head in his hands, visibly shaken, almost in tears.

Finally, he composed himself and asked, 'Just how many is a brazilian?'

This is not surprising, since he obviously has no understanding of billion or trillion either

Suddenly it's Winter

I AM IN THIS POINT OF MY LIFE & HOPE I HAVE A LONG WINTER,BUT IF NOT
I'M READY TO SEE MY SAVIOR & ENJOYED CELEBRATING HIS BIRTHDAY [CHIRISTMAS}
TODAY, FOR HE'S THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.
CRABBY
P.S. DO NOT KNOWN WHO WROTE THIS BUT THOUGHT IT FIT
MY LIFE


Suddenly it's Winter


You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the
passing years.

It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my
new life with my mate. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I
wonder where all the years went.
I know that I lived them all...
And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and
dreams... But, here it is the winter of my life and it catches me by
surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did
my youth go?

I remember well...seeing older people through the years and thinking that
those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off
that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...But,
here it is...my friends are retired and getting gray...they move slower and
I see an older person now. Lots are in better shape than me... but, I see
the great change... Not like the ones that I remember who were young and
vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those
older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the
day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore...it's mandatory! Cause if I
don't on my own free will..I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the
aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things
that I wish I had done but never did!!

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how
long it will last...this I know, that when it's over...its over....Yes , I
have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done ,,,,,things I should
have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's
all in a lifetime....

So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be
here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in
your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!!

Life goes by oh so quickly ! So, do what you can today, as you can never be
sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so,
live for good today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to
remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things
that you have shared with them in all the years past!!

'Life is a gift to you so it is called "The Present". The way you live your
life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.'

LIVE IT WELL!!----ENJOY TODAY!!!!-----DO SOMETHING FUN!!!----
BE HAPPY!!!----BE THANKFUL!!!!!

GOD IS GREAT, BEER IS GOOD& PEOPLE ARE CRAZY

I RECEIVED THIS IN A E/MAIL THIS MORNING & WANTED TO SHARE . WE ALSO HEARD VERY LITTLE ABOUT A GREAT MARINE HERO; ED MCMANN. IT SURE SHOWS HOW OUR VALUES ARE ERODING & WHAT KIND OF ROLE MODELS WE CHOOSE.
GOD IS STILL ALIVE & ON THE THRONE.
GOD IS GREAT, BEER IS GOOD& PEOPLE ARE CRAZY.
CRABBY

With no disrespect intended to the Jackson family, this sure does reveal the shallowness of our value system in this country.

While the focus today, tomorrow and for the next God-knows-how-many-days will be the death of a pop culture icon; while many will mourn, wail and quite literally make fools of themselves over it and while as many will speak endlessly about it, allow me, if only for a moment, to remind us all that others have died this month; others whose lives were cut short; others who leave behind loved ones and whose families will dearly miss them; families who'll suffer with much more dignity and honor than we'll be exposed to on the tube in the coming days.

Yes... it's true... we've suffered a great loss... but forgive me while I tell you that I'm not talking about the king of pop music.

These American military members died in Iraq this month:



Sergeant Justin J. Duffy

Specialist Christopher M. Kurth

Specialist Charles D. Parrish

Lance C or p or al Robert D. Ulmer

Staff Sergeant Edmond L. Lo

Sergeant Joshua W. Soto

Captain Kafele H. Sims

Specialist Chancell or A. Keesling

And these members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Afghanistan this month:


Sergeant Jones, Ricky D.

Specialist Munguia Rivas, Rodrigo A.

Command Master Chief Petty Officer Garber, Jeffrey J.

1st Sergeant Blair, John D.

Sergeant Smith, Paul G.

Staff Sergeant Melton, Joshua

Sergeant 1st Class Dupont, Kevin A.

Specialist O'Neill, Jonathan C.

Chief Warrant Officer Richardson Jr., Ricky L..

Specialist Silva, Eduardo S.

Lance C or p or al Whittle, Joshua R.

Maj or Barnes, Rocco M.

Maj or Jenrette, Kevin M.

Staff Sergeant Beale, John C.

Specialist J or dan, Jeffrey W.

Specialist Griemel, Jarrett P.

Specialist Hernandez I, Roberto A.

Sergeant Obakrairur, Jasper K.

Staff Sergeant Hall, Jeffrey A.

Private 1st Class Ogden, Matthew D.

Private 1st Class Wilson, Matthew W.

Let's remember and honor this day those whose deaths are truly impacting.

June 14 Flag Day

This picture was taken at the VFW post 6968 at Linden,Tx. The Boy scouts gave a real nice presentation on the correct way to burn old flags,Thank You Boys & Scout master Charles Snowden.

American Minute for June 14th:

Thirteen Stars and Thirteen Stripes. It was on JUNE 14, 1777, that the Second Continental Congress selected the Flag of the United States. In 1916, Woodrow Wilson signed the Proclamation making JUNE 14 "National Flag Day." On Flag Day, 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt stated: "The belief in man, created free, in the image of God-is the crucial difference between ourselves and the enemies we face...God of the free...grant us victory over the tyrants who would enslave all free men." On JUNE 14, 1954, Dwight Eisenhower signed Joint Resolution (Public Law 396) adding the phrase "One Nation Under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Eisenhower stated: "From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty. To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than...this rededication of our youth, on each school morning, to our country's true meaning." President Eisenhower ended: "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource, in peace or in war."
Got this info from Mitch News
CRABBY

MY HEROS

I JUST WONDER WHAT OBAMA,HIS SUPORTERS,OR THE REST
AND THE LEFT WING MEDIA WOULD HAVE DONE .
CRABBY


> This is a truely inspired story.
> a great read about our troops who we sometimes take for
> granted.
>
> > WHEN THE MUSIC STOPPED
> >
> > For those who are unaware, at a military theater, the
> > National Anthem is played before every movie..
> >
> > From a Chaplain in Iraq : I recently attended a
> showing
> > of ' Superman 3 ' here at LSA Anaconda. We
> have a
> > large auditorium
> > we use for movies, as well as memorial services and
> other
> > large gatherings. As is the custom back
> > in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when
> the
> > National Anthem began before the main feature.
> >
> > All was going as planned until about three-quarters of
> the
> > way through The National Anthem the
> > music stopped.
> >
> > Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000
> 18-22
> > year-olds back in the States?
> > I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a
> few
> > rude comments; and everyone would
> > sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if
> > they had stood for the National Anthem
> > in the first place.
> >
> > Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at
> attention,
> > eyes fixed forward. The music started
> > again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at
> > attention. And again, at the same point, the
> > music stopped.
> >
> > What would you expect to happen? Even here I would
> imagine
> > laughter, as everyone finally sat
> > down and expected the movie to start.
> >
> > But here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every
> Soldier
> > continued to stand at attention.
> > Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and
> quickly
> > the room was filled with the voices
> > of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording
> left
> > off:
> >
> > "And the rockets red glare , the bombs bursting
> in
> > air, gave proof through the night that our flag
> > was still there. Oh, say does that Star Spangled
> Banner yet
> > wave, o'er the land of the free,
> > and the home of the brave."
> >
> > It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in
> Iraq .
> > I wanted you to know what kind
> > of Soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as
> they
> > fight for you!
> >
> > We need to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers at home and abroad. For many have already paid the
> ultimate
> > price.
> >
> > Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins
> > LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq , north
> of
> > Baghdad
>

Happy Easter

I recieved this E-mail today & wanted to share
Crabby

Take a few moments and enjoy a wonderful Easter story…



Happy Easter!

God made it so easy for His "gift of Easter" to be received by us, and
this story conveys just how easy it is to have a fresh, new life in Him.
Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas.
She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips
was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was
Edith Burns.



One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of
Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with
her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting
beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way:

"Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she
would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be
saved.

Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse,
Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood
pressure..

Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"
Beverly said, "Why yes I do."
Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?"
Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing
up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally
led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Dr. Phillips said, " Beverly, don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I
believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room.



After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she
took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you
reading your Bible? Are you praying?"
Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient" With
a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have
cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."
Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you
think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my
precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that
I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty
giving me my ticket!"
Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns
is!"
Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office
was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not
show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would
have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near
home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my
room who need to know about Easter."
Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room
with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to
patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith
Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse.
Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she
was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had
seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been
married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick.
Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When
she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God
loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you."
Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work.. I'm
not interested."
Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home
until you come into the family."
Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen,"
and curtly walked out of the room.
Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say,
"God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you."



One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a
magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so
glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day"
Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question,
"Do you believe in Easter but you have never asked me."
Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until
you asked, and now that you have asked." Edith Burns took her Bible and
shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter?
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?"
Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do
want Jesus in my life "Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus
Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a
hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.



Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what
day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday."
Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter, Phyllis!"



Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some
of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter
lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her the lilies and wish her a Happy Easter.

When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible
was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on
her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized
Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are
many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and
receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also."
Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying; and
there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."



Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face
toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy
Easter, Edith, Happy Easter!"
Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table
where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross.
Do you believe in Easter?"