Over and over again I’ve said,”I never thought I would live to see the day when ——“. Well, now there is something else to add to that list. I never thought I would live to see the day when a president would refer to Americans as “enemies”. That is exactly what President Obama said.

I know emotions run high during elections, but when a president tells his supporters to “punish their enemies” that is way over the line. That is the most offensive thing I’ve ever heard any president say.

Thank God for House Minority Leader John Boehner who rebuked the president, saying, he sees “enemies”–I see “Patriots”. We need more leaders with the guts to stand up for what’s right. There ought to be an outcry across the nation, protesting the actions of the president. How can any God-loving, true blood American remain silent? The fact that so many aren’t troubled by this troubles me–deeply. It’s just another evidence that our nation is in serious trouble.

That tirade by the president reveals his true feelings about those who don’t support him and it expresses a spirit of desperation regarding the election. You can get angry with me for pointing this out if you want, but I don’t know how you could respect me if I didn’t. As far as I’m concerned, this is as serious as it gets. If this wouldn’t prompt you to speak out, what would? So, I have now lived to see the day when the president of my nation has called me his avowed enemy. I can’t help but wonder what will be next.

I am commanded to love my enemies, and by God’s grace I will. But I’m also commanded to stand against those who threaten to destroy our God-given liberties, and by God’s grace I will! What will you do? This is election day–VOTE!

This article appeared in the July, 2010 issue of the “American Rifleman”. It was written by Ronald L. Schmeits, President of the N.R.A.

Please keep in mind that this has to do with freedom, not firearms! As election day rapidly approaches you need to give serious thought

to these words of wisdom:

Declare Your Independence When You Vote Freedom First!

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

This month, 234 years ago, our country’s Declaration of Independence made some of the most profound and powerful political statements ever expressed.

Yet today, for the sake of partisan gain, many in the political class are attacking the eternal truths that frame our nation’s founding documents as outdated, even dangerous.

So in honor of Independence Day, let’s revisit some of the ideals at the core of this country’s experiment in self-governance to consider what they mean in 2010 America.

The Declaration of Independence severed the colonies’ dependence upon England, but the idea of individual independence was central to the Founders’ thinking.

Being independent meant you were free to fend for yourself, trusted to exercise your freedoms and allowed to excel or fail as a result of your own decisions without interference.

Yet today, many politicians seem to want to make people less independent and more dependent upon government—for bailouts, buyouts and a variety of preferential treatments—and to provide for every need.

This is the opposite of what the Framers intended. Government should be dependent upon, and subject to—in the words of the Declaration of Independence—”the consent of the governed.”

But when those roles are reversed—when politicians put the people in the position of being dependent upon and beholden to them—our freedoms invariably suffer.

What about the idea that government gets its authority from the people?

George Washington wrote, “The power under the Constitution will always be in the people.” Indeed, our Constitution begins with the words “We the people.”

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.”

Yet today, many politicians are turning their backs on the people.

When politicians say one thing during their campaigns, but do the opposite after they’re elected, that says they don’t care what the people think or want. It’s the same arrogance King George and Parliament expressed for American colonists in the 1700s.

When politicians take away your ability to make your own choices, that says they don’t trust you with the freedom to make your own decisions.

We know better than you how you should live your life, they say. So they try to dictate everything from how you run your business to how much salt you have in your food.

We’ve seen politicians demonstrate all of these vices—elitist arrogance, distrust of freedom and disdain for the people—in the gun debate for decades.

They don’t trust you to own or use a firearm safely or lawfully, so they seek to delay, diminish or deny your Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

To convince you to surrender your freedom, they promise you security. They say you don’t need a gun because the police will always be there to protect you.

But as countless victims of crime through the ages could tell you, the promises of politicians didn’t protect them any more than their own prayers and tears.

Sometimes you can’t count on anyone but yourself. That’s what independence means. In this case, the other side of the coin—being dependent—means being defenseless.

But you’re not defenseless from arrogant politicians.

The sacred beauty and supreme genius of what the Founding Fathers built for us through the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and our Bill of Rights is that we the people will always have the tools and ability to retain control of our country.

This year that ability will be demonstrated with your vote and the vote of every American who wants to be free.

The danger we face is that between 20 and 25 million American gun owners are not registered to vote.

So between now and Election Day, November 2, be like Paul Revere. Sound the alarm to freedom’s faithful.

Spread the word to your family, friends, fellow parishioners, co-workers, neighbors and anyone who will listen.

Then get them to do what their freedom demands: Register to vote today. And on Election Day, Vote Freedom First!

Together, let’s use our votes to restore to our country the purpose, promise and blessings of freedom that attended her birth 234 years ago this month.

THINK ABOUT IT!

Did you read this—-“A California woman who befriended a homeless woman and let her sleep in her car told police she didn’t know where to turn when the woman unexpectedly died–so she drove the body around for months along with a box of baking soda to hide the smell.” (AP, Oct. 21,2010)?

The article went on to explain that the woman had died 10 months ago! Really! I can’t imagine how or why anyone would do something that crazy. One of the cops gave this explanation—“She felt she would be accused of something and with everything else going on in her life, she didn’t want to deal with that.”

Although this is more extreme than any example I’ve ever read, it goes to show what great difficulty some people have in dealing with problems in their life. They’re like the mule that starved to death standing between two stacks of hay because it couldn’t make up its mind which one to eat from. Not very smart is it?

Now I know we would rather not have to deal with problems, we wish there were none, but sooner or later you’ve got to do it. Although your problem is different from this ladies (I sure hope you don’t have a corpse in your car), you’ve got some problems and ignoring them won’t make them go away. The sooner you face the facts about your situation the better. The old “sweep it under the rug” trick doesn’t work. You can cover things up only so long before the stench reveals that something isn’t right.

Problems come in many different forms. Your’s might be a sin that you’re trying to hide, or a failure you don’t want to face, or an illness you don’t want to admit. Whatever it is, the sooner you deal with it the better it will be. Do it without delay. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Think about it!