Insomniac Theater

A person recently told me they essentially didn't give a crap about the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  (That's the one about keeping and bearing arms, in case you don't know.)  Not in those exact words, but you get the picture.  And you know, that's kinda sorta OK. Every person is entitled to their own opinion. Just because a right exists does not mean we have to exercise it.

But in a broader sense, it does disturb me.

For example, right now I am exercising my 1st Amendment right by saying the stupid or crazy stuff that is on my mind as the sun rises.  There should be no constraint on that right, other than things like yelling "Fire" in the proverbial crowded theater.

The police did not kick in my door at 2 AM this morning and ransack my underwear drawer, and I don't think they should have done that at your house either, at least not without probable cause and a warrant.

And that is the point I'm trying to make.  Even if you don't want to own a gun and exercise your 2nd Amendment right, you should respect and defend my right.

I won't enumerate the Bill of Rights and other amendments here, but I will say that I stand for every word of The Constitution, and I swore to support and defend it on multiple occasions. Even though my oath and military service ended in 2004, I still believe in that document passionately.

Just because I might choose to be silent does not diminish the vigor of my defense for you to shout.

Just because police are not violating the sanctity of my home does not change my defense of yours.

Those are but two examples...

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Catholic.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.

Rev. Martin Niemöller


If we don't defend the Bill of Rights, (and The Constitution) it becomes a "Bill of Maybe When or If I Get Around to It"