The truth of the matter is that it really doesn’t matter who occupies the White House, the governor’s mansion or your county courthouse; “We the People” must be vigilant in our pursuit of freedom. The system envisioned by the forefathers of this great nation is now a mine field with traps and full-out erosion of our freedom. The only true way to maintain what we have so regularly taken for granted is fight for it.
Use them or Lose Them
Trent Loos
I am very confident most people reading this would agree with me that the inaugural ceremonies that took place recently in Washington, D.C., were very invigorating.
When you have a president of the United States who included God as many times as Donald Trump did, along with sentiments that the nation’s control would be returned to “we the people,” how could you not be overly excited about our future?
Last week I had KrisAnne Hall, a veteran, an attorney and most importantly, a constitutionalist, on my Rural Route Radio program. We had an interesting conversation about how good things have gotten now. However, we both agreed on air that no matter what the thought process was in the White House, this country is only governed by the people IF the people are willing to step up and assume the responsibility to take the initiative.
I am willing to admit I had not been a good student of the Constitution until the recent years. In fact, prior to April 2013 I could not have told you about the 10th Amendment but heard very loud and clear Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback speaking to the Second Amendment Protection Act that had just passed in the state.
I remember him boastfully bragging about the 10th Amendment and stating that any federal agent who comes into Kansas to enforce a federal gun law that does not comply with Kansas law will themselves be arrested. That speech may have been nothing other than grandstanding because the situation actually took place and no Kansas official is stepping in to honor the harsh words spoken just a few years ago.
For the past few months, this situation has been unfolding in Kansas with very little press coverage. In fact, I ashamed to admit it took a constitutional zealot from Florida to bring me up to speed on what is happening in my neighboring state.
Just as a reminder, here is the news from April 2013:
“The Second Amendment Protection Act” does exactly as the name implies: It provides residents protection of their Second Amendment rights by exemption from federal gun control laws, including bans or restrictions on certain guns, magazines or ammunition, for all guns and accessories within the state’s borders.
“Any act, law, treaty, order, rule or regulation of the government of the United States which violates the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is null, void and unenforceable in the state of Kansas.”
So with all the stern words shared by Kansas officials in 2013, why do we have two individuals today who have been convicted and awaiting sentencing on Feb. 6 for federal firearms charges?
A veteran of our nation purchased a gun from a firearms dealer in Chanute, Kansas. The feds swooped into the state to make an example of the couple for purchasing a gun with a silencer, which is against federal law. Could someone please tell me, with all the rhetoric blown around about protecting Kansas manufacturers and dealers, are these two gentlemen about to be strung up by the federal court system?
The truth of the matter is that it really doesn’t matter who occupies the White House, the governor’s mansion or your county courthouse; “We the People” must be vigilant in our pursuit of freedom. The system envisioned by the forefathers of this great nation is now a mine field with traps and full-out erosion of our freedom. The only true way to maintain what we have so regularly taken for granted is fight for it.
Don’t be confused when I say fight for it. I literally mean utilize all of the inalienable rights we have been granted to make sure we protect what is ours. While it may be one of the oldest clichés in history, it is without question absolutely accurate: Use them or lose them.
Trent Loos is a sixth generation farmer, host of the daily radio show, Loos Tales, and founder of Faces of Agriculture, a non-profit organization putting the human element back into the production of food. Get more information at www.LoosTales.com, or email Trent at [email protected]
