The Right To Bear Arms

Our national governing documents state it plainly, clearly and without ambiguity – “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.” Our state constitution does the same – “That every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.”

This principle – just like so many of our Founding Fathers’ writings & speeches – was built upon biblical truth, history and their own practical experience. I love to tell the story of 1 Samuel 13 – a time when the nation of Israel was under captivity. They had to go down to their captors to sharpen their plows, cutting instruments, axes and sickles. Why? Because tyrants understand that it’s impossible to enslave a people whose minds are free and whose means of defense are the best available.

I certainly enjoy hunting, and many of my family are fantastic hunters. I’m so proud of them – it’s a great way to eat and build a family legacy! But at its foundation, the right to keep and bear arms isn’t about food. It’s about those in leadership knowing that freedom isn’t free, and that the people they represent love their freedoms. If duty calls, they will lay their lives down against all enemies foreign AND domestic. They will cover land and water to ensure that their children are handed the privilege, freedom and responsibility of local representative government.

Constitutional Carry has been so long delayed and is coming SO late to the party in Alabama for one simple reason – people in leadership have resisted it. Thanks to the courage and brilliant political chess of some brave Alabama statesmen, it’s finally happening. But don’t be deceived by those who now MUST celebrate it and talk as if they supported it all along. “We dare defend our rights” is a MAGNIFICENT motto. WE must defend our God-given RIGHTS. And this requires that we be wise enough to see who are “true blue” defenders of the 2nd Amendment and those who are “fair weather” politicians. There are some who have worked AGAINST these rights in the past and are now being forced to act as if they’ve supported our constitutional right to self-defense all along. If the political weather changes, they will change and will not dare to defend our rights because they are not truly people of principle. I am not a “fair weather” politician – I have always and will always support constitutional carry and have ALWAYS opposed any kind of registry of guns of Alabama citizens.