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Allen West: In Search of Giants
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“The Bible’s” Third Episode
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The Spectacle Blog
In the days after President Obama released 23 executive orders following recommendations set by the Joe Biden’s gun control task force, there have been robust responses. One came yesterday from Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who claimed that “very few of (the) recommendations have anything to do with what happened there.”
Governor Perry later asserted that “evil … finding its way into vulnerable hearts and minds” is the ultimate cause for the tragedy at Sandy Hook, and warned not to blame the instruments themselves: “Guns require a finger to pull the trigger.”
He then went on to make a statement that could yet go a long way towards transforming the current debate over gun control:
“As a free people, let us choose what kind of people we will be. Laws, the only redoubt of secularism, will not suffice. Let us all return to our places of worship and pray for help. Above all, let us pray for our children.”
It is natural to want to actively prevent the sort of tragedies witnessed at Sandy Hook by any means deemed necessary. And though, to some, executive orders and legislation have the comforting tone of an authority with the power to eradicate evil, Governor Perry’s ultimate point that mere law-making is folly has validity. When confronting the reality of evil there are no easy solutions. Oftentimes, as in the case of Sandy Hook, no “solution” will undo the evil already done.
In his speech on Wednesday, President Obama agreed in substance on this point, but with the addition of one caveat:
“…while there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil, if there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there is even one life that can be saved, then we’ve got an obligation to try.”
The ultimate question is what to try. Since an authoritarian, top-down approach ultimately cannot eradicate evil, is it worth giving up on our liberties and our Constitution “to try”? Governor Perry rightly asserts that any solution lies with “a free people.” This is a principle on which we all need to stick to our guns.
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More Blog Posts by Jackson Adams
http://spectator.org/blog/2013/01/18/politcs-gun-control-and-the-pr
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JeffP| 1.18.13 @ 11:24AM
I wish Governor Perry had been on his game during the primaries last year. He would have been a much better spokesman for conservatism (and the Republican brand) than the eventual nominee. He probably wouldn't have beaten Obama (I think we lost the country with the culture) but at least we would have had a candidate who could have engaged the Left from an ideological and moral perspective.
Redfray | 1.18.13 @ 12:02PM
If guns are the only problem in our society, it would be easy to end all our problems. So, where does our problems come from? The loudest voice can always make the most disturbing problems for humans. Who speaks the loudest in our society. Long before that loud voice came a long, the people were making decisions to handle any evil in the land. Now the law of the land is louder than the common sense of the people who support the American country. No one is hearing the voice of the taxpaying citizens, becasue we must work rather than play in the headlights of the American society. The voice of reasoning is destroying our working Americans.
spike59| 1.18.13 @ 12:46PM
“…while there is no law or set of laws that can prevent any senseless act of violence at all, no piece of legislation that will prevent any tragedy, any act of evil, if there is even one thing we can do to help my poll numbers and gain more control over the working stiffs, if there is even one buck that can be snagged for the hungry maw of the State and/or the campaign coffers of the DNC, then we’ve got an obligation to try.”
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there, Mr President; fixed it for ya
Conservative Bob| 1.18.13 @ 6:52PM
Bravo
This is exactly what I heard when he spoke and have been confused when the quotes I heard did not reflect it. I think however you missed the line about 'trampling once and forever the racist constitution those bitter clingers and baggers so love to quote.
Albertus Magnus| 1.18.13 @ 8:22PM
"Since an authoritarian, top-down approach ultimately cannot eradicate evil..."
This is an interesting statement. An "authoritaran, top-down approach" IS evil. Authoritarianism is inherently evil. The "top-down approach" always fails at its stated purpose, but ultimately succeeds at its real purpose, which is authoritarianism itself, the manifestation of ego. An "authoritarian, top-down approach" is not intended to solve problems, ANY problems, be they Sandy Hook or the trillion dollar deficit. The "authoritarian, top-down apporach" is intended solely to advance the authoritarian rule of the elitist in charge and to satiate his ego. It is Caesarism writ large.