The Founders' Dilemma

A dilemma is a situation in which one is faced with two or more unhappy choices.  The Founders were faced with just such a choice.  Sign the declaration and become traitors and virtually sign their own death warrant or live life under the thumb of a cruel king/dictator. 

According to Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers, a “pensive and awful silence pervaded the house as we were called up, one after another, to the table of the President of Congress,” Rush said, to sign “what was believed by many at that time to be our own death warrants.”**  There was no high fiving celebration taking place.  There was no hoisting of the mug to heartily thumb the proverbial nose at King George.

Many of the Founders lost family, property and some their lives in the cause of Liberty after that fateful day.  Some were subjected to cruel torture and abuse in British prisons.  Today we find ourselves in a situation in Pike County locked in our own “battles” against primarily a Chicago Machine ruler and federal government that is determined to rule over every aspect of our lives.  New York City is even worse in that the Mayor thinks he is so intelligent that the people he ‘rules’ need him to save them from themselves by deciding even how much soda they can have in one cup.  We don't need to go into scandal after scandal apparently perpetrated by those within the current leadership in Washington D.C.

In Pike County we as board members may be called on to adopt the operative portion of the Second Amendment as the law of Pike County.  The same board took the following oath:  "I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of county board member to the best of my ability."

The question becomes if I swore to uphold the Constitution of the US then how can it be wrong to adopt portions of the Constitution to our county code?  At least as long as we don't change the intent.

Recently we, the board, were visited and informed by an attorney that if we adopt a portion of the Supreme Law of the Land as a direct part of our county code, it would be “unconstitutional” and we could be subject to “enormous liability.”  We are told it might create “confusion” in the minds of the People.  The People might actually be confused into believing that the 2A means what it says and begin to exercise a fundamental right to keep and bear arms.

I can tell you what confuses the People.  The confusion is being made by a Chicago Machine oath breaker sentiment that reinterprets “‘shall not be infringed’ to mean ‘shall not be infringed very much.’”  Then it passes laws that create criminals out of the People who are otherwise law abiding citizens.  I still say how can you pass a law that requires permission of government to exercise a fundamental right?  Further what court could interpret that law as anything other than an infringement?

So now the Pike County Board has a dilemma.  Do we pass a simple ordinance which reiterates that the 2A is the law of the land and makes it a part of the County code and potentially have a law suit brought against us, and be hung as traitors to the Chicago Machine (just kidding)?  I see it as our duty, as our mission, it is a promise upon our oath to stand on principles that the Founders suffered and died for?

Surely there a few of the People who would be willing to find a little time to come and express their support for Liberty at the next meeting of the Pike County Board, June 24, 2013, 7PM.  I can see where a great host of the People could assist the board with some clarity on the direction they need to go.  As for me I will stand with the Oath I declared upon taking office.  It should be up to the Chicago Machine to show that their laws are in compliance with the Supreme Law of the Land.  They are the ones creating the confusion by passing infringements to fundamental rights.

Since I wrote this article 2 weeks ago, Madison County, Randolph County, and Tazewell County state's attorneys can now be added to Judge Ron Dozier, formerly State's Attorney to McClean County and Edwards County State's Attorney Mike Valentine who agree that the right to carry is a fundamental and constitutional right.  They have stated their opinions based on their legal research.  They further declared that no one would be prosecuted for exercising their fundamental right in a law abiding manner.  Look them up for more details.  I say what would our Founders say?  I don’t think it would be to hard to figure out where they would stand.

If you would like to correspond with me on this contact me at: editorial@pike912.org or leave a message at 217-285-2134, or follow my blog at: pike912.blogspot.com.

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** American History Magazine, August 2013 issue, Suicide Pact, by William Hogeland, p. 32