Opinion
USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- I’m not writing this column by choice. I hate that I’m writing this column at all. The fact of the matter is that I feel forced to write this column because of the actions of power-mad, wannabe tyrants across the nation from governors down to local homeowners associations, yes homeowners associations.
For some reason, mine decided to send a letter letting the homeowners know they were “monitoring” the recent COVID19 outbreak and would “keep us informed of further decisions,” before “taking action” and “closing the tennis courts” until “further notice.” (They did mention that while they can’t legally stop us from using the playground and tennis courts, if we violated their “order,” we were “on our own”) Now, I don’t play tennis but I’m pretty sure that the players are more than six feet apart so let me make this easy for you, HOA.
Cut the front and back entrance of the neighborhood, maintain the pool and tennis courts then SHUT UP and GET OFF MY LAWN!
Moving on to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D)/wannabe-vice-president, who recently invited scorn for the recent expansion of her previous stay-at-home order. In her bid to be the best tyrant she can be, Whitmer has now “ordered” that her state’s peasants may no longer gather with friends and family. I’m no fan of these “orders” in the first place, but at the same time, I understand the need to take action to stop the spread of an unseen enemy Chinese virus, I believe as a free man, I’m capable of taking suggestions and working with officials to do what’s right for my family and my community, on my own. I do not need some government official “ordering” me to do anything, let alone ordering me to stay away from my siblings or my parents.
As Ike Clanton once said to Wyatt Earp in the movie Tombstone, “That don’t go round here, law dog.”
Now, for the record, I don’t live in Michigan, but in my state of Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp (R) has also issued shelter-in-place orders, as many governors have throughout the country. These orders mandate that I remain home unless doing essential business like gathering food, shopping for necessary supplies, etc. The question that comes to my mind is, who gets to determine what’s necessary in my life? Apparently, the governor does. Well, the governor is wrong.
As a responsible father, brother, son, husband, neighbor, I’m capable of balancing the needs of the community with what I determine to be essential in my life and won’t leave that up to any government official any time soon. We here at AAR Ranch are doing just that by only leaving to do those things that we have decided are essential to our lives and our business. If I determine that my 80-year-old mom and my 81-year-old dad need my assistance, we are capable of balancing the risks. We, as a family, will determine whatever it is that needs to be done, not some governor, mayor, or any other tyrant in training.
There are those who will tell us that not everyone is responsible and therefore must be “ordered” by the government to do certain things.
My response? There are always irresponsible people who do reckless things no matter the situation. You can’t fix stupid, and criminals still break the law. We are a free nation, and we don’t give up our liberties, our freedoms, and our way of life because of the actions of those moronic morons. If we did, we no longer have our rights, our freedoms, or our way of life.
For years I have said over the airwaves that if we continue to allow these officials unconstitutional access to our way of life, eventually good, decent, hard-working people are going to have to make some terrible decisions. That time is upon us. Many are being forced to decide whether they will violate these unconstitutional power grabs and risk arrest for merely heading over to mom’s house for a brief well-check visit and a good home-cooked meal. For many of us, the family is the only thing keeping us sane right now. People are asking whether it’s OK inviting Barb and Harry for a gathering at the fire pit on a fresh spring Friday evening for a round of chilly beers and some grilled chicken wings.
That’s never a crime in America no matter what some tyrant may decide.
All aspects of our lives can be balanced with responsibility. We can sit a little farther apart at the fire pit by moving our lawn chairs over. We can make individual runs to the cooler for our beers. (some folks will probably love not hearing, “honey can you grab me another beer?”) When we go about our own essential business, even if it’s buying mulch for the front yard, we can practice safe distancing, maybe choosing to wear a mask and avoiding certain types of situations that aren’t necessary to buying mulch, for example.
Tyrants hate that we can make our own decisions. We must get back to normal as soon as possible, even if it means violating a tyrannical order. Apparently, in Tyrant-land, USA, heading to Home Depot for mulch is now considered civil disobedience.
So be it.
Mark Walters
CEO-CCW Broadcast Media LLC
Host-Armed American Radio and AAR Daily Defense
Member-Board of Directors-Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
About Mark Walters
Mark Walters is the host of two nationally syndicated radio broadcasts, Armed American Radio and Armed American Radio’s Daily Defense with Mark Walters. He is the Second Amendment Foundations 2015 Gun Rights Defender of the Year award recipient and co-author of several books, Grilling While Armed, Lessons from Armed Americawith Kathy Jackson and Lessons from Unarmed America . Mark is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Follow Mark and support pro-gun media.
Tyranny under color of law or virus is still tyranny. RIGHTS are not negotiable nor are they rescindable. They are not called unalienable by accident. There is no legal reason to close gun shops etc. Tyranny carries with it the same penalty as treason and if there is not an accounting for it don’t be too surprised when the citizenry settles out of court. The Va. state flag says it all. The entire nation is all too aware of the two tiered legal system and how illegal and immoral it is. We have seen it for decades. The courts need… Read more »
“Tyrants” have never been, nor will they ever be, defeated by “Responsible Civil Disobedience”.
The BIBLE and firearms are two things EVERY American should know how to use, neither of which are taught in schools. Even if, rather especially if, one has to be civilly disobedient to go to Church and/or carry your firearm, they are the correct things to do. They always have been. When enough of us actually use our unalienable RIGHTS the evil that the demoncraps have become may want to reevaluate their outlook on their subjects. When the courts actually judge law based upon the constitution and not their own personal whims the evil left might want to re evaluate… Read more »
@DP, The three tools that every American citizen should know how to use, before leaving high school, are the Bible, the Constitution, and firearms.
Great article and very timely. I just turned in a petition protesting our “rec center”‘s GM closing of our golf courses of all things. This will encourage our golfers to go to neighboring communities (that have a higher rate of infection), play and come-on back home.
Brilliant!
Right. I find it bffling how so many healthy OUTDOORS activities, out in wide open spaces where “sicial distancing” is already the norm, not by fiat but by the very nature of the activity, are being closed, denied, etc. The Clifornia paddleboard guy noe one human whiin half a mile until the dirty coppers showed up, arrested him, stuffed him into the same patrol car as the arresting DC, then off to the local CrowBar Hotel for booking, getting tossed into a tin can where “social distancing” is impossible because of the numbers….. Nah, this whole thing is a trial… Read more »
Could not agree more!
Indiana’s Tyrant-in-Chief outlawed all offline worship and has enforced this unlawful decree. While tech-savvy Christians may have no problem transitioning to a virtual assembly, not everyone has internet and not everyone is tech-savvy. Moreover, drive-in socially distant worship services are an option for churches with wifi & micro-FM transmitters, but the Tyrant’s decree doesn’t provide for responsible innovations. I for one will defy ALL unlawful decrees and do so ARMED.
But if anything 27 years ago should have taught us, government interactions with churches never go well for religious liberty…
@WF, Getting arrested, now, pursuant to the unconstitutional decrees of any mayor, county commissioner, or state governor will be financially beneficial, someday.
The best thing that could happen is if large clubs, congregations, and community groups peacefully assemble and force the police to arrest all of them, enmasse. Get copies of the police paperwork, take pictures, keep lists of the others arrested, and support each others’ stories.
We could create lawsuits so big that it would bankrupt whole cities and states, and set future wannabe tyrants back on their heels. And it could create a nice retirement fund.
Riiiiiight… Sue the government for lots of money so they can rape your wallets later to pay for it. No, that’s not how any of this works!!! Aside from making them pay court costs and attorney fees, the best thing would be to sue for their removal from office, being barred from ANY government position for LIFE, and make them personally liable – politicians and LE alike. However, the tyrants thought of this a long time ago and passed laws creating “sovereign immunity” so that when government officials and their mercenaries (cops) violate your Rights and/or cause physical harm to… Read more »
@WF, all that barred from any government position would be great, of course, but none of the legal machinery exists for that.
The legal machinery does exist for an individual or group of individuals to sue a state, county, city or even the United States.
Depriving governors, county commissioners, or mayors of funds would deprive them of the power that they wish to exploit.
@WB, This is why we need to amend the Constitution to implement a scientific, propertarian solution. This would prevent parasitism and violations of reciprocity among elected officials. Violations would be a criminal offense with specific consequences.
@WF, With a Trump favorable House and Senate, we could push for those very reforms!
@WB, we had that from January 2017 to January 2019. What’s changed to compel the RINO GOP to make substantive changes that radically diminishes the power & scope of the federal government back to its constitutional limits?
We are not voting our way out of this. Not like that.
@W.F., Yes Sir, I believe that day is coming —- soon.
Arm up, carry on.
@DB, Hmmm, maybe. Lets run a test. Pick up your rifle and a week’s worth of food, water, ammunition, comms gear, personal equipment and everything else that you think you would need in a week’s worth of combat, and then carry it all around a city block. A city block is little enough. Then re-assess.
@WB – Why did you assume @DB can’t hump a ruck one block? Are you a doomer, defeatist, or just trolling @DB with ageist comments?
DB hadn’t disrespected you so I don’t understand why you had to chime in like an ahole unannounced.
@WF, I made no assumption. I formed a theory and then proposed a test. Those are the first two steps in the scientific method. The inferring is on your part … respectfully.
As far as chiming in, this is an open opinion forum. Everyone is invited to chime in. I chime in. You chime in. We all chime in.
@WF, Well, the composition of the House and Senate, of course. And there is the experience level of the Trump team. The swamp creatures pulled a lot of wool over the neophyte Trump team’s eyes that could not be done, now.
every one of these tyrants had to have sworn an oath to uphold, defend, and support the US and their own State’s Constitutions as a precondition of taking up their current office. Swearing such an oath, then wilfully violating it (easily proven in nearly all these instances) is felony perjury. Mot public offices are barred to convicted felons. Thus there IS a mechanism in current law for effectively removing these dirtbags from office. This would only have to happen to two, maybe three if the rulers want to be unusually dense. Anyone else contemplating playng King George Three would be… Read more »
I never thought I’d see so much blind obedience on the part of Americans. This COVID 19 event/plan/crap has clearly demonstrated the level of ignorance, stupidity and gullibility of the vast majority of our population. If it were put out in the media tomorrow that there were orders from the CDC, state governors and/or Federal government, true or not, that citizens had to report to the local railroad yards to board cattle cars to be “safe” and “comfortable”, there would be stampedes and people trampled trying to be first in line.
@JPM, True, but there is good news:
” ‘A slap in the face’: Furious Michiganders are planning to protest their governor’s travel crackdowns in the state capital
[email protected] (Grace Panetta,Rachel Premack)
April 13, 2020, 5:47
A group of Michigan residents infuriated by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s strict stay-at-home orders are planning a Wednesday vehicle protest at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing.
Still, Whitmer has faced a backlash for her executive order that barred residents from traveling within the state to get to their second homes and designated items like garden supplies as nonessential and unable to be sold at stores…”
WB, You have no idea. I phone or e-mail a guy I’ve known for 50+ years on a near daily basis. He is SO pissed that he finally got around to writing a letter to his reps and the Gov.
I’m so proud. It’s only taken me 1/2 a century to get him to take direct action against his Democrat government. Given another 1/2 century I might even get him to vote for a Republican. Hey, it could happen.
JPM: I’ve been preaching everywhere I go lately that the “training of the sheep in America” has been almost completely successful. Almost. It would be, except for the fact that there are a good number of us that can be classified as “great citizens, lousy subjects” who refuse to comply with all of the Nanny State/Tyrant-decreed things that we are told (ordered) to do. WE will NOT be herded into the cattle cars! Good comment. Great quote by Mr. Higgs. Going to have to look into him further. Be diligent. Be vigilant. Arm up and carry on with what you… Read more »
We can sit a little farther apart at the fire pit by moving our lawn chairs over. Hah!! Why “sit a little farther apart” out in the yard sitting round the Barbie? HOW far from your family memebers are you when at the table enjoying your brekkie, or riding in the car to the store to get your comestibles, or as you pass each other in the hall on the way to/from the WC? Good grief, I’ve read accounts of married couples, having been together (including sleeping in the same bed, and more) for sixty years or more, being “talked… Read more »
Your first sentence brought something to mind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIMH50X0F-4
You’re the one that joined a Home Owners Ass.
CB, In a huge number of places, HOAs are a state requirement. Your ONLY choice is not to live in the area. You job may have something to do with that.
They’re not in Georgia or Tennessee, the only two states in which I’ve owned houses. When I shopped for my current digs, if I drove through a neighborhood, and all the mailboxes were identical, I went elsewhere. Instant deal-killer. A blanket state requirement for an HOA sounds like something out of the Peoples’ Republik of Kommiefornistan. Normally, HOAs might be required if a development exceeds a certain housing density, which would be defined in zoning ordinances. In practice, there just might not be any other kind of development going on, particularly around big cities, like Atlanta. Think McMansions on postage… Read more »
buzzsaw, I didn’t mean that they were required in the entire state.
I meant that the state requires them in many places,housing developments or planned communities, for example. If you are lucky enough to live outside a city where those are the norm, I envy you.
Once I get out of this DC hell-hole, I never intend to have anything to do with them again.
@DiF, Texas is calling!
WB, You’re teasin’ the animals. We’ve been through this before. I’d love to, but given my wife’s medical issues it ain’t gonna happen.
@DiF, my apologies, I had forgotten. It is a pity, though, it would have been nice to have breakfast at the Yantis diner.
WB, No need to apologize. I expect your memory is getting to be about as good/bad as mine. It’s hard to remember all the who did what to who stuff. I’d LOVE to get some decent burnt ends, among other things. Oh well, life’s like that.
Will, Everybody does who’s had to deal with them and isn’t on their Board.
@wjd, Flee the cities … and HOAs!
@Must Have Hammer, Humorous.
Only one way to stop TYRANTS!!!
Proof that what we’re doing now is madness:
https://townhall.com/columnists/marinamedvin/2020/04/15/israeli-professor-shows-virus-follows-fixed-pattern-n2566915
Following the law is not a priority of mine in any situation, emergency or otherwise, or on any day. Being responsible is. I stop at traffic signals to prevent accidents, I dispose of oil properly because you’re just a lazy suck on the environment if you don’t, I carry a gun because we’re all safer when the responsible folks do, and I will have zero physical contact with my parents until risk of infection becomes very low because I wish to protect my mother who is in her seventies and has a weak immune system. I don’t give a damn… Read more »