Citizen
Founder's Club Member
This summer marks my tenth anniversary of interest in gun rights. Think back to the summer of '06 when immigration was the social hot topic, and the UN was moving against possession of small arms.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge for me. A lot of reading about history and rights. Not just gun rights, but all rights.
What is the highest certainty I have been able to conclude with regard to freedom?
The Bill of Rights is just a mile-stone on the road to freedom. The Bill of Rights is not the high-water mark (unless we allow it to be).
For some years I have been an amateur student of English political history--because our freedoms today and yesterday proceed from English history.
So, what is the greatest lesson I've been able to draw from English political history?
Just this: ever since Roman Emperor Claudius invaded Britain in 43 AD., English history has been one long story of the fight for freedom.
In the minds of historians, "pre-history" is the time before written history. The Romans destroyed English history when the Roman governor eradicated (genocide) the Druids. The Druids in England practiced memorized verbal history not too unlike the Vedic Hymns of India. So, when the Roman governor trapped and destroyed the last of the Druids on the island of Anglesey, he erased the pre-history of Britain.
So, the written history of Britain begins mostly with the writings of Roman historian Tacitus. Before that, there is only archeology and a few passing blurbs by Julius Caesar who tried to invade Britain the 50's BC.
So, coming forward from Claudius and Tacitus, English history is one long story of average people fighting for their rights. One long, see-sawing story of power versus rights, power versus freedom. Across seventeen centuries. Centuries.
The milestones of freedom are easily marked. The history already exists. One just has to learn it.
And, this one point stands out: the Bill of Rights is not the be-all-end-all. It is just a milestone.
For example, today, the US fedgov holds that the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination is a "fighting right". That is to say, the fedgov disingenuously holds that you have to invoke your right against self-incrimination. Phhhht! The only reason it is a fighting right is because government never acknowledged it is full-power right. This goes back to the 1650's and John Lilburne's fourth trial for high treason. Afterward, the courts ruled that a person could not be compelled to testify against himself. Meaning, the government only conceded the hairline degree it felt it had to in order to avoid the populace breaking out pitchforks and torches. Nothing, nothing at all, stops the federal courts from fully recognizing the right against self-incrimination by holding that nothing said by accused can be used against him in court. The ancient Jewish courts--the Sanhedrin--supply the example that puts it in perspective. They held just exactly that: nothing the accused said could be used against him.
The Bill of Rights was just a milestone. A very important milestone. But, just a milestone.
So, we're not done, yet. The Bill of Rights was just a consolidation of gains up to that point--December 15, 1791.
There is no reason whatsoever to stop there. For example, the Bill of Rights does not even hint at economic rights like the right to a stable currency. Huh? I have a right to a stable currency that cannot be inflated by government? Sure, you do. I have a right to a stable economy free of booms and busts caused by fractional reserve banking supported by government? Sure you do. Its like asking, "Do I have a right to have my savings remain more or less of equal value to the day I stored it away?"
But, I don't want to get lost in the examples.
My point is this: the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are milestones on the road to freedom. Of this I am sure: English political history is one very long story of people rising to more and more freedom.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge for me. A lot of reading about history and rights. Not just gun rights, but all rights.
What is the highest certainty I have been able to conclude with regard to freedom?
The Bill of Rights is just a mile-stone on the road to freedom. The Bill of Rights is not the high-water mark (unless we allow it to be).
For some years I have been an amateur student of English political history--because our freedoms today and yesterday proceed from English history.
So, what is the greatest lesson I've been able to draw from English political history?
Just this: ever since Roman Emperor Claudius invaded Britain in 43 AD., English history has been one long story of the fight for freedom.
In the minds of historians, "pre-history" is the time before written history. The Romans destroyed English history when the Roman governor eradicated (genocide) the Druids. The Druids in England practiced memorized verbal history not too unlike the Vedic Hymns of India. So, when the Roman governor trapped and destroyed the last of the Druids on the island of Anglesey, he erased the pre-history of Britain.
So, the written history of Britain begins mostly with the writings of Roman historian Tacitus. Before that, there is only archeology and a few passing blurbs by Julius Caesar who tried to invade Britain the 50's BC.
So, coming forward from Claudius and Tacitus, English history is one long story of average people fighting for their rights. One long, see-sawing story of power versus rights, power versus freedom. Across seventeen centuries. Centuries.
The milestones of freedom are easily marked. The history already exists. One just has to learn it.
And, this one point stands out: the Bill of Rights is not the be-all-end-all. It is just a milestone.
For example, today, the US fedgov holds that the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination is a "fighting right". That is to say, the fedgov disingenuously holds that you have to invoke your right against self-incrimination. Phhhht! The only reason it is a fighting right is because government never acknowledged it is full-power right. This goes back to the 1650's and John Lilburne's fourth trial for high treason. Afterward, the courts ruled that a person could not be compelled to testify against himself. Meaning, the government only conceded the hairline degree it felt it had to in order to avoid the populace breaking out pitchforks and torches. Nothing, nothing at all, stops the federal courts from fully recognizing the right against self-incrimination by holding that nothing said by accused can be used against him in court. The ancient Jewish courts--the Sanhedrin--supply the example that puts it in perspective. They held just exactly that: nothing the accused said could be used against him.
The Bill of Rights was just a milestone. A very important milestone. But, just a milestone.
So, we're not done, yet. The Bill of Rights was just a consolidation of gains up to that point--December 15, 1791.
There is no reason whatsoever to stop there. For example, the Bill of Rights does not even hint at economic rights like the right to a stable currency. Huh? I have a right to a stable currency that cannot be inflated by government? Sure, you do. I have a right to a stable economy free of booms and busts caused by fractional reserve banking supported by government? Sure you do. Its like asking, "Do I have a right to have my savings remain more or less of equal value to the day I stored it away?"
But, I don't want to get lost in the examples.
My point is this: the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are milestones on the road to freedom. Of this I am sure: English political history is one very long story of people rising to more and more freedom.
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