What can I do? (Principles)

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I ended yesterdays’ article with a couple of questions:

  • Who are you really and what do you truly believe in?
  • Are you willing to die for those things you believe in?

Isn’t that the real test of commitment in something? Are you willing to lay down your life for something you believe in?

Here is an example of a principle that you might consider…

Self-Defense: While many say they believe in the right to self-defense most don’t understand its origins and authority. If you don’t understand the foundation of a principle, how easily could you be persuaded, or compelled, to abandon that principle?

What is self-defense? Generally speaking it is a legal concept that allows an individual to use reasonable force to protect themselves or another from personal injury that is inflicted by another. Our Founding Fathers saw it as a God-given or natural right, but it didn’t originate with them.

Our Founders refined that concept from John Locke (1632–1704) who stated that natural rights were self-evident and gave man the right/power to pursue life, health, liberty, and possessions, as well as the right to self-defense. But that right came from English law long recognized an absolute right all the way back to 1330. And that can be traced back to Roman law 2000 years ago that stated a man had the right to defend his family and home from anyone who would invade that home. But it can go back further still, all the way to Exodus 22 (1400 BC) stating that a man has the right to defend his home, family, and possessions. Today we would call that the ‘castle doctrine’.

In today’s day and age in a constitutional sense, the natural law basis of the right to armed self-defense is part of the original meaning of the Second Amendment. That human rights were inherent (coming from God), and not granted by government…after all, the entire basis on which the nation was created comes from:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident…that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…” – Colonial America Declaration of Independence, the foundational document of the United States of America.

How does this right of self-defense apply? Well, it is easy to understand how it applies against criminals who wish to hurt us or others. And I noticed that there is no defining of, or any limitations on, who a person can defend against as it applies to that right. So the criminal part is easy…but so is the defense against a government who wishes to harm/injure us. And that was the bottom line to the whole Declaration of Independence…the right of self-defense from a government that was oppressing 1700’s Colonial Americans.

Hence, we see the Second Amendment was written based on the events of April 19th, 1775 in the Battles of Lexington and Concord. If the Founding Fathers didn’t want us to be able to have the unlimited right of self-defense they would have not have clearly stated such in our Founding Documents and they would not have executed that right themselves 249 years ago.

Now it comes down to morals in terms of self-defense…for instance, if we are committing a crime and injure/kill a person trying to stop us…is that self-defense? No…plain and simple. Or is it? In 1930’s & 1940’s Nazi Germany it was against the law to help Jews avoid capture. Would a German citizen be committing a crime trying to help Jews avoid capture? Yes.

So it boils down again to morals. What morals have priority…which have the highest authority when it comes to laws…now comes the concept of right and wrong.

See how this can get weird and deep…and confusing without much trouble. Let’s go back to Nazi Germany…would you have the moral courage to recognize that the capture and murder of Jews to be right or wrong? Think about it…killing men, women, children, and babies either by shooting, starving, or gassing…right or wrong? For my way of thinking…unquestionably wrong!!

So now it comes down to this…if I break the law helping Jews escape that fate and kill a government agent doing so (i.e. Gestapo), am I guilty of murder or am I justified through the natural right of self-defense?

Let’s change it up a bit…I am a Jew and I kill a German soldier defending my family against capture by Nazis am I guilty of murder or am I justified through the natural right of self-defense even though I committed the crime of murder trying to protect my family?

Let’s make it way too close to home…example: in a disaster law enforcement officers come to my house to take my food storage and my only source of power to keep the lights on and heat running in my home. They do so with the five members of my family present. I refuse to turn over the generator, they threaten my family with guns and attempt to take the food and generator. Would I be justified in defending myself and family?

Remember, there is a difference between justified/legal and the right thing to do (morals). And remember, murder is the shedding of innocent blood. A thief is a thief is a thief…and therefore not innocent.

Let’s take a hypothetical example out just a bit…The Second Amendment is clear…perfectly clear. So next year the US federal government declares all semi-automatic guns illegal via an ATF ruling and begins immediate forceful confiscation the next day. How do you feel about that? I mean how do you really feel about it way down deep in your soul? Pause to think…

Then the day after the declaration…a heavily armed FBI/ATF SWAT team shows up at your door breaking it down to confiscate your guns…what do you do? Or, they show up at your neighbor’s door doing the same…what do you do? How deep is your commitment to the Constitution and Bill of Rights? Are you truly committed…or a fair-weather Constitutionalist?

Can you be persuaded to give up your beliefs in clearly outlined rights, liberties, and freedoms when a pretty boy starts talking about safety, security, the greater good, or national security? Politicians and bureaucrats talk that crap all the time. They spew national security, national interests, keeping the street safe, protecting our children, common sense gun laws, protecting the homeland, patriotism, salute the flag, sing the national anthem, law and order, apple pie…pure bullshit.

What is my point to all of this? The point is…WHO ARE YOU? What do you truly believe in? How deep is your commitment to what you believe in?

If you don’t know the answer to those questions then no amount of preparedness will mean a damn thing. You will be too easily swayed by anything and anyone that comes along who sounds pretty and talks convincingly…or has a gun and a badge.

Here are some examples of my principles/beliefs:

  • No one will lay a hand on my family to do harm.
  • Abortion, other than to save the life of the mother, is shedding innocent blood.
  • The First and Second Amendments are sacrosanct.
  • Transgenderism is a mental illness.
  • Mutilation of a child in the quest for transgenderism is absolute evil and demonic.

The above are examples where I will not budge and will not be moved. Any attempt to do so will be met with resistance as needed. And no, I am not saying violence…I am saying resistance. However, the Founders did set the example that made violence an action of last resort. (Read the Declaration of Independence)

What about your principles/beliefs?

What do I base my principles/beliefs on? That is an easy one!

First, I base my beliefs on eternal principles. Meaning scripture based words of God. And I follow God far more than any man-made law. Man-made laws will come and go…God’s laws are eternal. Don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t commit fraud, and be faithful to your family. Add into that…try my best to treat others as I want to be treated.

Second, I also base my beliefs on the United States’ founding documents; 1) Declaration of Independence, 2) Constitution, 3) Bill of Rights. I see them each as carrying equal weight.

Anything preached outside of those two areas are null and void if it conflicts with either. And anyone who is doing preaching to persuade otherwise is not to be trusted at all…or is to be resisted or potentially stopped.

What would you use as a basis to define your beliefs and principles? In today’s world…there are lot of people and a lot of organizations that talk pretty, their ideas even sound good and look good. But, if they fall outside of, or are in conflict with, my ‘first’ and ‘second’…then they are of no use, no value, and are to be cast aside by me.

How about you?

In my way of thinking…you MUST figure out who you are, what you believe in, and how committed you are. Otherwise, how will prepping really do you much good?

 

 

 

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