“Don’t Tread on Me”

 The Right to Protect Ourselves from Tyranny

“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.”– Second Amendment (1791), United States Constitution.

Since the beginning of America there has been a need for private citizens to protect, not just themselves, but their families, communities and properties. During the Revolutionary War citizens from all over the colonies came together under a common purpose, and it was the defense of a new nation. Along with the Continental Army, they broke the chains of tyranny and defeated the British. After the end of the war and during the drafting of the Constitution the founders saw that citizens not only had a right but also a responsibility to protect themselves from all enemies, foreign and domestic. This responsibility gave birth to the Second Amendment.
The Second Amendment may be one of the most embattled amendments in our constitution, mostly for the freedom of firearms that it provides. America is one of the freest nations in respect to firearms ownership. However, within that amendment there is a much more important debate raging in the court of popular opinion: the American Militia Movement. This movement is made up of loosely affiliated and self-funded groups of highly skilled and well-armed citizen soldiers from around the country. They share a common goal and that goal is the protection of the American citizenry and her ideals. This is protection from both our own government and foreign entities that wish harm to us. Unfortunately, in the years since our great victory, militias have become marred in a liberal funded and media run smear campaign.  Cont.Reading