Let freedom ring.... ALL freedoms

July 3, 6:48 AMCleveland Gun Rights ExaminerDaniel White

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Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, Independence Day. A day of picnics, cookouts, family gatherings, and fireworks. Our country's birthday. A day to celebrate the actions of our Founding Fathers when they cast off the oppression of the British Crown and issued the proclamation:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

Unalienable Rights. And yet it seems that every day some politician or political interest group is trying to take those rights away.

As a Gun Rights Examiner, most of my articles deal with the Second Amendment, which ties directly into the goal of securing the right to life, the right to liberty, and the right to be able to pursue happiness unmolested.

All of our rights, enumerated but not limited by the Bill of Rights, are part of who we are and part of what makes us free. All too often, it seems that people are willing to trade away those rights for a government handout or the false promise of additional safety or security. We're told that if we just give up a little freedom and allow a little infringement on our rights that we'll be safe from criminals and terrorists. But our rights are what define who we are, and if we're willing to give even a few of them away, how much longer can we truly call ourselves free?

Millions of men and women have given their lives in the belief that these rights and freedoms are worth fighting for. The least we can do is take that fight to the polls and to our legislators in the form of letters, phone calls, and emails. If we sit back and allow them to keep taking, soon we'll have nothing left.

I'll keep this short since many of you would like to get a start on a holiday weekend, but I leave you with some food for thought.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Happy Independence Day!