We have a lot to be thankful for, starting with the men that were willing to pen their names in support and affirmation of this….
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
That took a great deal of courage, as in doing so they literally put their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred Honor on the line.
Moving to this day, we have a Constitution that they put together as a restraint on the Government they formed, that it would be limited and constrained only to those purposes which they set forth.
Some of them, feeling that it was further necessary to specially protect certain rights, pushed for a “Bill Of Rights” to enumerate God-given rights that the Government must never harm. Among these is the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
It is interesting to note that it is the only one which specifically states “shall not be infringed”. They felt strongly enough about it that they gave it extra protection.
Just last week, the Supreme Court of the United States by a vote of only 5 to 4 (meaning that 4 Justices were not willing to accept the plain language that it is written in) voted that the 2nd Amendment applies equally to all levels of government as do the rest of the Bill of Rights.
There is yet a long fight ahead to fully restore that which has been infringed. It should not be any fight at all, but there are yet those that can be rightly considered “enemies domestic” that persist in trying to infringe on that basic right.
I am personally thankful that the Founding Fathers were willing to stand in the places they stood in their day, and give their best to provide for us a nation which is free.
I hope that we can restore and strengthen it, so that they can smile upon us when we see them again. As of right now, that free nation stands tenuous at best, and we must be vigilant in pressing forward to give our best.
Let us keep that Republic they gave us, and not have to hang our heads in shame at what could otherwise be a glorious meeting when we see them again.