Tyranny is counting on ignorance

March 9, 5:05 AMGun Rights ExaminerDavid Codrea

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Have we become a civic dunceocracy?

As sovereign individuals it is our duty to self-govern. That means, among other things, to make choices and conduct ourselves in ways that do not burden or victimize our fellow human beings. As citizens of a nation, it is our duty to be informed as to the scope, nature and limitations of government, and to be on guard against abuses. While we have representatives for some concerns, it is still up to us to make sure servants don't turn into usurpers. That means we have to understand the issues of the day, and what is and is not the proper role of government in addressing them, if any.

As Patrick Henry famously observed:

“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”

Or is that famous?

How many non-gun owner readers have read those words before? How many gun owners have? Do you know who Patrick Henry was, beyond the guy who said "Give me Liberty or give me death?" What else can you say you know about him--right now--without looking anything up?

I bring this up because I just came across an article in The Collonade, the Georgia State College & State University student newspaper. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was a guest on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," and she had a remarkable and terrifying observation:

"I thought that perhaps a lot of Americans had stopped understanding the three branches of government...Actually, the Annenberg Foundation took some polls: only a third of Americans can even name the three branches of government, much less say what they do."

Remarkable. Terrifying.

It reminds me of "Jaywalking." Click on that link and watch the video. Do you believe these vacuous young dolts?

The New Eloi.*

Realizing the implications, we should not laugh. These are the heirs of liberty, beneficiaries of ultimate and terrible sacrifices from men who pledged their lives, fortunes and scared honor. They have squandered an inheritance won through blood, powder and steel, and their shameful ignorance empowers further erosion of all our liberties.

It hardly surprises me, though. A few years back, I wrote an article for Guns Magazine entitled "Doh!" The bottom line:

"Americans know more about The Simpsons TV show than the US Constitution's First Amendment," the BBC News reported about a McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum poll.

I also came up with a cultural degeneracy indicator, something I call "The pH Factor." Try it. Click on "Patrick Henry" and then click on "Paris Hilton." Which one do Americans obviously know--and care--more about?

This is the American electorate. These are the people who cancel and overwhelm your vote. And you'd better believe if asked they'll offer opinions on "gun control"--even though the vast majority would not be able to define what edicts exist already, nor articulate why, from the Framers' viewpoint, practically all would be considered infringements worth actively resisting.

I wonder how many of the New Eloi could even tell us what the word "Framers" represents?

* "The New Eloi" was the title of my January 2000 Second Amendment column for Guns and Ammo magazine. In it, I juxtaposed a Village Voice man-on-the-street interview of anti-defense urbanites against H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine". Unfortunately, the article is not on line and the publishers own the copyright, so I can't bring it to you here...

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As long as we're talking Patrick Henry...

Blogonomicon brings us a pictorial breakdown of his most famous speech from the short film "Give Me Liberty," starring John Litel. It's a real treat. Go.

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Massachusetts state sovereignty

Ron Bokleman, President of of Norfolk County League of Sportsmen has submitted for consideration a State sovereignty resolution for Massachusetts which has been filed by Rep. Elizabeth Poirier. You can read the resolution and about it from this starting point.

Bokleman provides clarification on why he's doing this and what he hopes to accomplish in a follow-up article. I bring it to your attention for a reason: I want you to read it.

Compare these informed actions, assuming responsibility and leadership for civic matters pertaining to freedom, to the apathy and ignorance of the "Jaywalkers" mentioned in the first segment of today's column. What kind of citizen do we need more of if the republic is to be restored?

Perhaps it's time for each of us to ask ourselves "What kind of citizen am I?"

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The anti-gun shell game

They're trying to play it at the Capitol in Pierre, but South Dakota Gun Owners is having none of it. If you're from there, read about HB 1278 and what you need to do about it.