Taking Liberty for Granted

With rumors of Obama intending to use an executive order to deal with gun control the pro gun lobby is in an uproar and for good reason. Not only would such an order chip away at the second amendment, it would also be a frightening display of executive power... or would it. 

With legislation such as the NDAA, which grants the president authority to place American citizens on a kill list, this potential flexing of executive muscle should not be all that surprising. Once we have conceded the authority to take away freedoms from groups of people to the government, it is only a matter of time until our freedoms are on the chopping block.

Pro-Gun Conservatives showcase their hypocrisy towards liberty with their stances on the Drug War, Gay Marriage, and many others. When conservatives advocate policies which restrict what substances you can use(drug war) or who you can enter into personal contract with(gay marriage), they should not be surprised when the other side presents legislation which limits what objects you can own(gun control) and what financial contracts you must have(health care). 

The point is this, all our freedoms are connected. Liberty takes many forms, not all of which we may approve of. But if we wish to preserve our own liberty we must crusade for the liberty of others. We cannot pick and choose which areas we want to be free in, rather it is of paramount importance that we campaign for the entire cause of liberty. The freedom to live our lives without government interference should not be taken for granted. 

Those interested in preserving their rights to own firearms would be wise to champion liberty in its entirety. This means fighting against tyranny in all its forms and restoring the rights of people to do things you might not agree with but aren't harming others. A voluntary society should be the goal of everyone, especially those currently protecting the second amendment, because it is the only way to guarantee the rights we all desire.