A SOUTHERNER’S VIEW OF GUN CONTROL

I am beginning to feel unloved.  Rep. Charlie Rangel of New York said, “some of the southern areas have cultures that we have to overcome” when it comes to gun control.  His remarks along with many others have described southerners in a most derogatory way.  The south appears to be the particular focus of their scorn.  We cling to our God and guns (go Lynnard Skynnard).  We are conservative so Homeland Security says we are potential terrorists. The south makes up the Bible Belt so we are more dangerous because we believe in God and morals and values.  My conclusion is that some people are simply scared of the south and perhaps they envy our culture.

Southerners are a proud, independent people.  Most southerners are hard working, independent thinking people no matter what race, creed, or color we are.  It seems to me that social engineers and government types want to make us more dependent on the government. Why do we have official spokespersons like Rep Rangel claiming that the government must break or overcome our culture because we believe in the constitutional right to bear arms?

Southerners love to hunt.  Many of those hunters use guns labeled as assault weapons.  Those weapons happen to be the most accurate firearms to use for hunting.  We like to protect ourselves.  Law enforcement cannot possibly prevent most crimes.  You will not find a sherif’s deputy sleeping in every home.  Being in the Bible belt, we hold to the Apostle Paul’s understanding of humanity, we are all corrupt, fallen and sinful. Some  people will practice evil instead of good.  We know that we must protect ourselves.  Nevertheless, Rep Rangel, the President and most of the Democratic party want to constrain our ability to protect ourselves.

Southerners have developed a healthy sense of scepticism with it comes to authority.  It does not matter if it is the government, the man, big business, small business, self-important small politicians, and even religious authorities.  I am a pastor and even I don’t trust “religious authorities.” Thus we look at Rep. Rangel’s statement and his buddies’ attempt to change our culture, through squinted eyes and with  cynical speculation, we wonder what is the real agenda?  Why does the federal government want to disarm the south?

Whatever the reason, it is not going to happen.  Any southern member of Congress who votes against our second amendment rights will never be elected again.  If it were to pass, since our constitutional rights cannot be abridged by Congress, no one will comply.  The government would make criminals out of a lot of good, law-abiding people.  

One purpose of congress is to extend and enhance our freedoms.  However, it seems that government thinks its job is to restrict our freedoms.  I suggest that congress get to work on their constitutionally mandated business;  pass a budget, get control of the spending, reduce our debt, and take care of the military.  Otherwise, leave us alone.