Freedom

Recently we have been having a national debate about gun control. Before that it was a conversation about free speech when the Supreme court decided corporations were protected by the first amendment. We all have our reasons for proposing restrictions or the lack there of on guns or speech but we should always keep freedom in mind.

When the constitution was written there was much debate on whether or not the states would adopt it as law of the land. Realizing that it was an uphill battle the Bill of Rights were added to make it more palatable. The Bill of Rights however aren't so much about rights they are really the guarantor of our freedom. As you read them you can sense the distrust of government and the wish to reign it in and keep it reigned in. A free press,guns and other limitations on government are the only things that enable us to keep our freedoms.

I'm not a big one for quotes but I think Daniel Webster said it particularly well, "It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions...There are men, in all ages...who mean to govern well.but they mean to govern. They promise to be kind masters but they mean to be masters... They think there need be little restraint upon themselves...The love of power may sink to deep in their own hearts." The quote is from a speech defending the Constitution and is part of the preface in a pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution.