“To Keep and Bear Arms” – With Freedom, Comes Responsibility

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

The debate over “gun rights” and “gun control” is a heated one, no doubt. Standard conservatives work to defend against what they call “assaults on second amendment rights.” They campaign to remove restrictions on the buying, selling, trading, and owning of firearms. Standard liberals seek to limit gun ownership, be it by restricting certain types of weapons, or through an outright ban.? As both a hard-core liberal AND gun owner, my perspective is a rather unique one.

To me, “gun rights” and “gun control” are two sides to the same coin. To have one, you must demand the other. They do not negate each other; they feed and support each other. Not convinced? Read below.

If you honor the law and your fellow citizens, you have the right to own a gun if you wish.

If you’re a thief, a rapist, or are physically abusive to your family, you’ve killed before without just cause, you are mentally insane, you peddle drugs, etc., then you are a threat to this country. You must be treated as such.

Anyone who would infringe upon a child molester’s civil liberties by forbidding him to live next door to an elementary school, but would fight for his right to own a gun, needs to re-evaluate his stance about the meaning of citizenship. Being granted liberty and citizenship does not give you carte blanche to do whatever you wish. Citizenship is a responsibility; liberty restricts just as much as it frees.

Freedom of speech carries the responsibility to be honest, and participate in our open, democratic government. The right to a fair trial assumes that, if called, you too will do your duty to further the cause of justice. The right to practice your faith demands that you allow others to do the same, even if they practice it differently than you. The right to bear arms to protect your own family means that you must stop at nothing to protect every other family that calls this country home. If that means disarming people who are a threat to society, then so be it.

With great freedom, comes great responsibility. You can’t be given one without the other. If you expect the rest of the world to respect your gifts as a citizen, you’d better do the same yourself.

 

Clayton Ousley lives in Ann Arbor, MI with his beautiful daughter, Charlotte (a German Shepherd/Alaskan Malamute mix). He has a BA in History and Intelligence Studies from Notre Dame College, and is currently working on his MA in Military History from Norwich University. He enjoys playing his bagpipes, reading, hiking, and cooking ethnic foods.