‘CHRISTMAS CHAOS’

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly.” - Andy Rooney

          Some families celebrate Christmas by scurrying about from one relative’s house to another, dutifully making the obligated rounds, while others have all of their family gather in one place or another, together. Some open presents over a period of days, while others wait ‘til the actual day of Christmas to exchange gifts.

For my own family’s Christmas, we, my brothers and our families, all get together at our parents’ for our traditional Christmas Eve supper of fried chicken tenders, shoestring fries, baked potatoes, and salad. A huge platter heaped high with homemade goodies such as coconut balls, peppermint patties, peanut butter balls, orange slice cookies, Hello Dolly cookies, and fudge-mint brownies is dessert. And then once the table is cleared, we move to the living room for what we lovingly refer to, in our family, as ‘Christmas Chaos’… the opening of Christmas presents.

My Daddy is the ‘master of ceremonies’, in charge of passing presents out, and within minutes the kids are ripping into their presents, squealing with delight, the adults commentin’ one to another about what they got each kid, why, how hard it was to find just the right toy, and how great of a deal they got on it. During which, my Daddy is still calling out over them all the name of the person to whom the next present is for. Throw in intermittent camera flashes, an escalating noise level, and an errant wad of wrapping paper thrown across the room from one brother at another or one nephew at an uncle. And before you know it, 40-minutes later, the pile of presents under the tree has disappeared, and the living room suddenly resembles a disaster area. Adults and children alike are in the floor either assembling toys or already playing with them. The mood in the room is light, cheerful, and totally carefree. And from the wooden rocking chair where I sit, I observe it all with quiet contentment.

This is my family, and I am so very, very happy that they are mine, each and every one of them. I recall past Christmases and family members who are now celebrating the Holidays in a much better place, and I smile. Of all the different family Christmas traditions… the one thing they all have in common is the wonderful mess of ‘family’ created in living rooms just like ours. So, enjoy it, and don't clean it up too quickly.

                     Merry Christmas to all!

‘THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’S LIBERTY TEETH’

Posted yesterday on FACEBOOK, “Why does a standard citizen need an AK-47 or other assault rifle? Those should be reserved for law enforcement and the military. Every citizen should have the right to a pistol, hunting rifles, and shotguns, but… not assault rifles.”

Now, I understand the knee-jerk reactions to the recent incident of senseless violence in Connecticut, where a disturbed person using illegally obtained firearms indiscriminately murdered multiple innocents, and normally I would limit my comments on the subject until inflamed passions died down. This time is different. This is to set the record straight on one thing in particular… why a law-abiding American citizen needs an ‘assault rifle’.

Let me start with the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." I’m sure you’re no stranger to that, but did you know that the same Congress that passed the Second Amendment also passed the Militia Act of 1792, which defined ‘militia’ as "each and every able-bodied male citizen" from age 18 to 45 (with some exceptions) and stated that each one shall "provide himself" with a gun, ammunition, and a bayonet.

Though revised several times over the past 220-years, the current Militia Act basically keeps the same language ("all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and . . . under 45"), and further defines ‘militia’ as: "(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and (2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia." [Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 311]. So, now you know what constitutes a ‘militia’… we do, the American people. We are considered ‘unorganized militia’.

In explanation of this, our 3^rd President and the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson put it plainly, "The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

Our Nation’s Founding Fathers had the wisdom and foresight to guarantee that the citizens of this great nation have the right to possess the means to protect themselves and to reclaim control of our government should it one day become irredeemably corrupt and oppressive. Something these men knew all too well and feared might someday happen.

Now going even further in confirming our right to firearms, our very own Georgia Supreme Court opined that "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The right of the whole people, old and young, men, women and boys, and not militia only, to keep and bear arms of every description… shall not be infringed, curtailed, or broken in upon, in the smallest degree; and all this for the important end to be attained: the rearing up and qualifying a well-regulated militia, so vitally necessary to the security of a free State. Our opinion is that any law, State or Federal, is repugnant to the Constitution, and void, which contravenes this right." [Nunn vs. State, 1 Ga. (1 Kel.) 243, at 251 (1846)]

So, let’s answer the man’s question… “Why does a standard citizen need an AK-47 or other assault rifle?” To be able to effectively protect the United States of America and her people, that’s why. If the unthinkable someday does go down, what good would revolvers, single-shot shotguns, and bolt-action rifles do against a corrupt government (or invading foreign force) armed with not only assault rifles, but some of the most advanced weaponry in the world? What good would they do against a heavily armed terrorist here in our own hometowns attempting to harm our families, friends, or neighbors? And, people, make no mistake, that is exactly what the mentally unstable perpetrators in Connecticut, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, and Fort Hood, Texas, were… TERRORISTS. They were evildoers with deadly intent towards the law abiding citizens and defenseless innocents of this country. I, for one, want to be prepared. No, let me rephrase that… I will be prepared. I owe it not only to my family, but to my country, as well.

“Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence... From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable . . . the very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that is good."

- George Washington, 1^st President of the United States