In 1775 Christopher Gadsden inscribed on a yellow flag a simple phrase “Don’t tread on me.” The depth of these famous words has become all too apparent to citizens across Oregon.
Thoughts and commentary from Billy D’Kid
In the year 1774 British troops were routinely confiscating firearms from colonial citizens in the form of warrantless searches and seizures. This had become commonplace over the previous years and colonial Americans were on the brink of starting a rebellion that would shift the course of history.
The violations of civil liberties performed by the crown are the causes for which the framers of America risked their lives. Extensive taxes and regulations may have been reason enough to rise up against the empire, but the attempt to control citizens’ individual means of protecting themselves blasted the inevitable rebellion into hyper-drive.
As turmoil against the crown fermented on American soil, the now infamous Gadsden flag became a symbol of unity in the cause for liberty amongst the colonial population. These “arbitrary encroachments of the Crown on the liberties of the subject” (as stated by the Supreme Court) paved the way to the writing of the 2nd Amendment for the United States Constitution. “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
In the modern day environment of fear and misunderstanding, the rights and liberties of Americans are once again threatened by oligarchic politicians, only this time around many citizens are ignorant of the importance and indication of this amendment. Too many of us have forgotten why and for what our revolution was fought.
“A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guys.”
~Charlton Heston
The result of this amnesia in our country becomes very real as Oregon’s governor signs in to law the controversial “ghost gun” bill, HB 2005. The claim that this bill will keep weapons, guns or otherwise, from the hands of law breakers is not only logically unsound, but statistically inaccurate. The proof lies in the significant heights of violence and shootings in large cities across the country, in which citizens are strictly regulated on firearms. The significant crime level of our own Portland ought to be testimony enough to Oregonians that these additional, restrictive laws are having an opposite effect on gun violence rates. In September 2021 the Oregonian reported, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, an unfathomable increase of 449% in gun violence prosecutions between 2019 and 2021. If these laws are not working, why are we signing in a new one?
Hidden agendas to impede and control the population of Oregon. That is the true reason for bills like HB 2005. The signing of this bill restricts, not only the nature-given rights of Oregonians protected by the 2nd Amendment, but it also restricts the freedom of innovation. The vast majority of firearm advancements in functionality as well as safety over the past 200 years have been engineered by the genius of average individuals with innovative ideas working in their own private work shops. The restrictions in this bill will prevent any common future inventor from advancing the safety and efficiency of modern weaponry. Although this will hinder prolific talent, that may not seem to be of much significance to some, but the shackling doesn’t stop there.
Deep in the torso of this bill is also a declaration of emergency. What that emergency is never becomes clear and that should be an alarming red flag. Under the guise of emergency, the Oregon government has the privilege to undermine the citizens’ rights that it claims to preserve and protect. This should lead to numerous questions in the minds of the populace.
In the age of misinformation and fact checkers, individuals must seek answers and inquire more. Asking our fellow peoples simple questions that spark doubt in the narrative being fed plants interrogative seeds in their minds that may very well shift their perspective. We are not all going to think the same way or have the same opinions on everything, but that is the beauty of liberty, is it not? In a country as diverse as the United States, diversity of thought has become all too taboo. It is up to the free minded individuals to inspire our fellow Americans and help them realize the mistakes we have made as a nation. If we can not unite with our fellow man under common grievances, how can we ever expect to repair the damage that has been done?
“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms, is, as a last resort, to protect themselves from tyranny in government.”
~Thomas Jefferson
Billy D’Kid for UnCommon Sense 42020…signing out.
Sources:
- https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2021/09/portland-gun-crime-prosecutions-rise-dramatically-as-violence-surges.html
- https://www.portland.gov/police/open-data/crime-statistics
- https://www.guns.com/news/2023/07/14/oregon-governor-signs-confusing-ghost-gun-ban
- https://www.oregonfirearms.org/ghost-gun-bill-signed-by-kotek
- https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HB2005
- https://www.patriotwood.com/blogs/news/the-true-history-behind-the-gadsden-flag
- https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/historical-figures/esek-hopkins.html
- https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1967702
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1995/05/31/when-the-redcoats-confiscated-guns/e38d0810-af85-4949-8d93-3da746601e65/
- https://www.stephenhalbrook.com/law_review_articles/encroachments_of_the_crown.pdf
- https://www.whatsoproudlywehail.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Causes-and-Necessity-of-Taking-Up-Arms.pdf
- https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-01-02-0113-0001
- https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/declaration-of-the-causes-and-necessity-of-taking-up-arms/
- https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/causes-and-necessity-taking-arms
- https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/the-rifleman-report-free-market-innovations/
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