News Opinion Sports Videos Community Schools Churches Announcements Obituaries Events Search/Archive Community Schools Churches Announcements Obituaries Calendar Contact Us Advertisements Search/Archive Public Notices

Because it’s my right

Let me try to understand this.

The Constitution of the United States of America … It’s complicated, yet it’s simple.

Isn’t it?

I’m an average citizen. I have a right to print what I’m about to spout on about. You have a right to disagree.

Anderson County Commission passed a resolution saying Anderson County is in support of the Second Amendment — you know, the right to bear arms.

In doing so, a number of residents spoke up in favor of the resolution.

As one citizen said, “They are trying to get rid of a duly elected president, the next thing you know they will come after our guns.” I wish I could say I’m making this up.

This consensus with county government, of course, happened before the impeachment process of President Donald Trump reached the United States Senate. And maybe my time line is wrong. So, let’s just say this has been brewing.

The resolution had gone through something like four government committees?

I mean, you can’t NOT support it. Right?

Your duly-elected government officials spent almost an hour — yeah, 60 minutes — talking about this last month.

Color me stupid, but what else can an ELECTED person do after SWEARING allegiance to the United States Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution?

Sometimes an oath has to be enough.

Because that’s what we need, that’s what we have. When you back up your oath to serve our nation, and then serve your community …

And you’re chastised for it?

This kind of thing is not YouTube material.

I’m sorry, but “What the hell?”

Anderson County Commission also passed a resolution in support of The Constitution of The United States of America last month.

The question concerning what a “sanctuary” county means in relation to Anderson County law enforcement and its role in “guns” was brought up.

What exactly is a “sanctuary county” in relation to the Second Amendment?

And, does any of this matter?

The whole process was, at its best, distasteful.

What about the First Amendment?

What about the Fifth Amendment?

Despite the County Commission passing a resolution saying it was in favor of The Constitution of The United States of America, is that body to be held in trust? Not when you can pick and choose. Not when you have to pass a resolution saying you were in favor of it. That should be noted withouth question.

But it was questioned.

See, I think if you are going to highlight one article of the United States Constitution for some kind of fairyland, Capricorn “sanctuary,” and you let the others fall by the wayside …

Then, you’re not a patriot. Seriously, don’t kid yourself.

You are, at your best, a pawn. I encorage gun ownership. I encourage self-protection.

I strongly belive in that concept.

I do, however, believe in tighter controls.

If you don’t know how that can be, know this: The Sandy Hook shooter took his mother’s guns.

This is not a Second Amendment argument. It’s a self-realization argument; a self-preservation argument.

But then we cheapen it by spending time —way too much time — discussing if our county should support the Second Amendment.

I don’t believe in using Second Amendment rights as a poltical platform. That’s weak and appeals to the lesser informed — the ignorant.

Nobody is “coming after” anyone’s guns.

Nobody is going to knock on your door and say “Give me your guns because we want to leave your loved ones unprotected against the hordes of lawlessness.”

If you think otherwise, then you are a fool. Proper gun ownership is our right.

So is me writing about it.

But with these rights, these assurances, come responsibilities.

I don’t need county commissioners, who have proudly served their country and taken an oath to uphold The Constitution of the United States of America, to tell me it’s okay to own a gun.

That, my friends, is my opinion and my right to express it because of the First Amendment.