Barton For Congress
By John Longenecker (08/17/06)
I’m asked a lot how gun laws affect the non-gun owners (s) in America. Every edition of Good For The Country is written for the non-gun owner household
I like to answer as a total talk on the subject, but I’ll reduce it to its important points because I have something to say in connection with the upcoming election.
I am impressed by the response of Rick Barton, Republican Candidate for U.S. Congress (Massachusetts Sixth District) in issues I raised. And I’ll say just how this relates to the everyday household. You can visit Mr. Barton’s website at www.rickbarton.us
Simply put, crime to others affects you, and so does the attitude of every U.S. Representative, I hasten to add. This is how we become interested in races outside our communities. The government is not out to get your guns and your sovereignty: only some individuals are, and they operate outside the authority of the People and outside their oath of office. But they are a troublesome lot, and do not represent everyone.
Gun Control is abandoned by the Left in America because it’s a hot potato issue. They’ve dropped it this time around. Some experts say it’s a loser for the Democrats. Could it be a winner for the rest of the country (since so-called conservative values are mainstream values)? Since when are values of good faith, personal integrity fair play right-wing values? They aren’t.
Holding representatives accountable is one of the differences between the right and the left, or, more precisely, between the left and the rest of the country. With me so far?
I asked Mr. Barton a short list of questions and I was pleased with not only the answers, but the knowledge and basis for that authority underlying it all and appreciation for our sovereignty which we need to keep, specifically the Candidate’s understanding that we are in authority, not government. Very refreshing. Very necessary right about now.
I asked:
1 Where do you stand on concealed carry of weapons?
2 What is your position on Stand Your Ground laws now in fourteen states of the union?
3 As a self-reliance issue, what is your view of personal sovereignty and citizen authority backed by the second amendment?In answering question one, Mr. Barton said, “I would support legislation such as HR 1243 introduced by John Hoestetler of IN that deal with national reciprocity for those licensed for concealed carry in their home states.”
Good answer. There are many bills now on the floor for nationwide concealed carry of weapons. John Hoestetler’s is an excellent one.
Question two, Mr. Candidate answers that he supports The Castle Doctrine, the authority behind the Stand Your Ground laws taking root in fourteen states.
Finally, the Candidate answers number three this way: “The Founding Fathers created the Bill of Rights to protect the rights of individuals. The freedoms of religion, speech, association, and the rest all refer to individual liberties. The Second Amendment right to
keep and bear arms is no different.”
I like the part where he told me, “The Constitution and Bill of Rights repeatedly refer
to the “rights” of the people and to the “powers” of government. The Supreme Court has recognized that the phrase “the people,” which is used in numerous parts of the Constitution, including the Preamble, the Second, Fourth, Ninth and Tenth Amendments, refers to people as individuals. In each case, rights belonging to “the people” are without question the rights of individuals.”
This is going to be what is at issue throughout this election: rights of the people and the powers of government and who understands the difference.
Now you might think that I’m for Barton because of his views on guns, but this is important: he’s not for guns especially, he’s for individual rights, and that very often includes guns and what guns are all about. Understand how long we have been looking for candidates who get it – men and women who understand that it is we who are in authority, and that public service means to more fully understand the nature of the relationship between the government and the governed.
Gun control is a losing proposition for the Democrats – what will it take for them to realize they’re on the wrong side of a lot of issues? Kennedy, Humphrey, Mondale were all pro-liberty as were the Democrats of the time; what the hell happened?
But would it work to the advantage of the conservatives (the mainstream)?
Yes, it would, because what is gun control to the Left as a hot potato is the chance to stand up for rights and individual sovereignty of both conservative and more mainstream households. To have a message, I mean. When a candidate states such a position unabashedly and so boldly for such values, I have a high level of confidence that he would resonate in values on other issues – many of which would be non-gun issues, sure, but pro-liberty issues important to household. Our most vexing issues with officials is the feeling that we cannot effect change from here. Having that message would be everything.
So many of these vexing issues are non-gun but pro-liberty issues at the core.
That’s why I am for Barton.
This is so very important when we ask whether we’re electing the right people. And where we find them.
Barton for Congress.
It would be good for the country.
John Longenecker
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