What are the Rights and Responsibilities of Americans? Seems like everyone is concerned about their rights and no one cares about their responsibilities. In today’s society, an accusation given without proof can ruin lives and there is no consequence for a false allegations.
It seems like individuals with a strong conservative value system are losing to those that care nothing about fair play and equality under the law. This bothers me, but I do think we can do something about it.
On Rights
The theory of human rights is an old one. It dates from the ancient Greeks to today’s civil rights movement. The argument is that humans have certain things that they must have based solely on their status as humans.
This belief is the basis of our American Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In fact this theory is so strongly held that it is the basis of Conservative thought.
Serous thinking on this subject leads to the question of what is a right. It seems to be that a right is something that cannot be taken away because it is inherent to a person’s status as a human. It is impossible to take from a person the status of being a person; therefore it should be impossible to take away a right. If this is so, then do we as humans have rights? The foremost right is the right to life. This right is taken from people every day. It is physically easy to take someone’s life. New devices to make this easier are constantly being devised.
What then of the right to freedom of speech? Can someone make you unable to express your thoughts? Yes, they can simply by removing your right to life. Property rights? Stop paying your taxes and see if you keep grandpa’s farm. One of the most talked about right in today’s society is the right to keep and bear arms. This right is constantly being degraded. It is beginning to be seen as antiquated, unnecessary, and dangerous. This particular right is being fazed out of existence. People everyday say that this right is inherent in the American way of life and can never be taken away. Ask the Australians, the Canadians, or the British if the right to own firearms for protection can be taken away.
You Have the Right to Fight for Your Rights
Does a person have any rights? If a right is something you cannot have stolen from you, then yes each person has spiritual rights. No one can take from you your dignity. Dignity can be hard to keep on occasion. Dignity can not be stolen. You must give it up. No person can dictate to you what to believe. If you believe in God, no one can force you to stop believing in Him. They may be able to keep you from physically expressing those beliefs, but they cannot take God from you. You have the right to stand up for your rights. If you believe you have the right to something, you can always fight for the right to use those rights.
This might be overly simplifying the idea. However it is important to know that when the founders of this country created our system, one of them was heard to remark, “We have given you a Republic. Lets see if you can keep it.” It is up to each person to define their own rights and to refuse to give them up without cause. Each time someone lobbies for some group to lose some right distasteful to them, they make it easier for their own rights to be taken away. Simply stated if they take the Second, the First will quickly follow.
On Responsibility
When a boy gets his first rifle, not only does he get a great privilege, but he also becomes responsible for how he uses it. The most clichéd version of this phenomenon is the adage “you can’t yell fire in a crowded theatre”.
It is true that as an American, you have the right to say most anything you desire, but you also have the responsibility to speak the truth and not to promote violence. We often talk about the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. However, outside of a gun class, how often is the responsibility for each bullet fired mentioned?
It does not matter what the intended consequence is nor the reasons or justifications behind the firing. What matters is the result. As an adult you must accept the responsibility for your actions. You did accept the privileges, so is it not fair for you to accept the consequences also?
A saying my child hears when he refuses to acknowledge that his actions have reactions is “You can do anything your big enough to handle, but you have to be big enough to take the praise or the licks.” All too often we as a society fail to see this as a part of life. There is a clamoring in the halls of our government buildings to legislate everything from marijuana to marriage.
You can Hide From Responsibility, but You Cannot Hide from the Consequences
Nobody likes having problems. Most people want protected from them. Few will take on the ugly task of DEALING with the problem. Abortion, for instance, is something everyone in society has an opinion on. If it is permissible, when is it allowed and under what circumstances? The question most times is not when is it okay, but why is it necessary. Abortion for birth control means someone is not taking responsibility for his or her actions. Another less controversial topic is the wearing of motorcycle helmets. It is not my place to try to pass a law forcing motorcyclists to wear helmets. As such, paying for their care is not my responsibility.
Today it is commonplace to hear people wanting what is owed to them. “It’s not fair!” ”Its my right!” “Equal opportunity!” All these statements ignore the realm of personal responsibility. We might have a strong opinion on this subject, but is that not reasonable when we demand a greater freedom of action. This website advocates self-protection. We teach people how to do what they believe is necessary to protect their family. We refuse to be a victim; therefore, we must take great care not to victimize others. This thought of personal responsibility is central to the philosophy of the Shepherd School.
In Conclusion
I want to leave you with two thoughts. We are a diverse country, that is out strength. Therefore, don’t judge people on their differences. Secondly, the government is based on force. When you beg for a law you are feeding a fire that you have no ability to control
College students are more affected when hurricanes hit their schools. When the meteorologists forecast a hurricane is about to hit, the school students are forced to evacuate. Sometimes forecasts are inaccurate, and the hurricane may hit when everyone is unprepared.
Hurricanes can occur when students are in college dorms. This can be the terrifying moment as you may not know what to do to rescue yourself. Knowing what to do and what not to can help save your life. Learn how to be safe in the dorm during a Hurricane,
The school must set up school emergency plans to save a student’s life during disasters. For hurricanes, the school can ask the students to go home.
Other emergency plans include:
- Installing hurricane shutters in the windows
- Emergency alerts
- Make sure the drainage system is working
- Set a safe location where students are safer
- The school should also talk about the hurricanes in details to help calm the students fear.
- The school should communicate with parents and let them know how safe their students are.
Below is a list of tips will help a student before, during and after hurricanes
Preparation before hurricane strikes
Forecasts from meteorologists can show hurricanes are about to strike. There are these simple things you can do in preparation for the hurricane to have you safe.
Evacuate and go home.
Hurricanes only affect a given region. When your school has been confirmed that it is most likely to be struck by a hurricane your home isn‘t likely to be affected unless you’re based near the school. The school administration is likely to evacuate the school. Going home keeps you will be far to feel the effects of the hurricane. Remember taking all your valuables with you as leaving them behind is risking.
Unplug all power cords and cover electronic equipment with plastic bags to lower damages as a result of water.
If you are not to evacuate the school, there are some things you will need to do.
- Move all furniture away from windows. All loose objects on the floor like books should be removed and kept on drawers. Take away any outdoor furniture, decor, garbage and lawn supplies that can blow away during heavy winds.
- Clean and fill water buckets with clean water. When there is a strong hurricane water supply is likely to be damaged. You will need clean water even after the hurricane as you wait for the water supply system to be repaired.
- Close all windows in the dormitory. Few days before the hurricane you can ask the school administration to install hurricane shutters.
- Look for a flashlight as the power may be affected leading to blackouts. You can also look for backup options such as power banks to charge your phone.
- If you own a car make sure to park it in the assigned area with all windows closed and doors locked.
During the hurricane
- Stay indoors. When in a dormitory during the hurricanes advisable to stay indoor until when the hurricane calms. Make sure all the doors and windows are closed. Stay away from danger areas like skylights, glass windows, and doors. Tree branches and flying debris can catapult through the window or door, breaking the glass and hitting you. Don’t open the window or door to look at what is happening outside.
- Avoid using elevators. Hurricanes are accompanied with destructions of infrastructures. The power supply is affected, expect power failure at any time. Elevators only work in the presence of power when power fails they lock themselves.
- When floods threaten to enter into the dorm power off the electricity at the breaker. Cover all electrical equipment with plastic bags and make sure to unplug all power cords.
- Don’t take a bath, make phone calls or use electrical devices as they may attract lightning during a storm.
- Avoid hurricane parties. They are only in movies. During hurricanes taking alcohol is risking your life. You need to think clearly as anything can happen at any time.
After the hurricane
- Stay away from standing water. Due to the destruction of the power supply, there may be some power lines in the water. The water may be electrically charged. Do not touch trees or any other object that is in contact with power lines.
- Do not drink tap water until the water supply has been repaired. This water if the pipe was broken at some point will be contaminated and harmful to your body.
- Report to the administration the areas that need to be repaired to avoid further damages and injuries.
*I did not write this post, as I never lived in a dorm during a hurricane. I have lived in a Barracks during a hurricane. However, my hurricane steps were to get a bunch of alcohol and to tie a bunch of ponchos together and make a sled out of the hood of an old truck and try parasailing down the main road to the French Creek Barracks Area of Camp Lejuene.
As a response to new, restrictive gun legislation from the liberal-majority state government, county officials are working hard to ensure they can defend themselves in the event of a crisis. County leaders have taken the matter into their own hands, working to provide themselves with protection regardless of what the state government does.
This new trend of Second Amendment protection is already gaining interest from other gun-restrictive states and could be an important symbolic step for local and personal rights advocates.
What are gun sanctuaries?
Illinois is experiencing a wave of backlash to recently passed and proposed bills currently going through the state government which would restrict firearm freedoms even more. Laws such as restricting the legal purchase of a firearm to those 21 and older, as opposed to 18, have caused several counties in Illinois to create their own resolutions to become “gun sanctuaries” and stave off the influence of the state.
As a play on the phrase “sanctuary city” in which local governments pass resolutions to create less cooperation with the federal government surrounding illegal immigration and other criminal issues, a gun sanctuary is a municipality, or county, in which gun rights are upheld. These counties feel that the state is overreaching their bounds in trying to take away constitutionally protected rights.
So far, 26 Illinois counties have voted to become gun sanctuaries: Effingham, Douglas, Cumberland, Clay, Clark, Christian, Brown, Fayette, Greene, Ford, Hamilton, Hardin, Henry, Jasper, Iroquois, Jefferson, Perry, Monroe, Lawrence, Saline, Pope, Shelby, Washington, Woodford, White, and Wayne. At the time of this writing, more than ten other Illinois counties were considering or about to vote on similar resolutions.
How do the resolutions protect Second Amendment rights?
The protections of the gun sanctuary resolutions have to do with preventing county employees from enacting what they claim to be unconstitutional prohibition of Second Amendment rights surrounding gun ownership. In Clark County, for instance, a resolution is in the works to stop five proposed bills from having an effect on the county. The idea is to protect ordinary citizens from having their rights stripped by ill-advised laws from the state at large. In practice, it means the local law enforcement would not enforce gun control measures within their county boundaries.
In Illinois, the Democrat-controlled state legislature is the entity pushing for further gun restrictions. Conversely, local county boards are standing up to prevent their citizens from losing constitutionally granted rights. In some cases, the measures the counties are taking do not go so far as to say that law enforcement won’t enforce state laws. In these counties, the gun sanctuary resolutions are first and foremost meant to send a message to the state that the counties will not stand for the state taking away their Second Amendment rights.
How does this work with current State laws?
The gun sanctuary movement puts more power into the hands of the people. It also puts more power in the hands of local government, which better understands its constituents as opposed to the far-removed state government. However, there are constitutional issues with gun sanctuaries.
Most gun regulations are actually done at the state level instead of federal or local. Due to the preemption clause, higher levels of government can overrule the state, city, or county resolutions. This new movement seeks to put the power back into the hands of the people at the community level, but the state may be able to overrule it.
The issue comes in the fact that certain local gun sanctuary laws can conflict with the state’s laws. In a legislature dominated by Democrats at the moment, it could lead to a slippery slope where local communities choose not to enforce state mandates. However, the laws are up for interpretation and this is why the resolutions could turn the tide for gun rights. Additional issues or challenges could result from state officials attempting to hold leverage over communities by restricting resources or passing other resolutions in retribution.
Could this be a model for other States?
As a movement created out of frustration and fear of losing constitutional rights, other states could definitely look at the 26 Illinois counties named above as an example to emulate. Effingham and Iroquois, both rural Illinois counties where the movement began, wanted to flip the script on larger cities who they felt were pushing them around with state policies. In addition, immigration sanctuary city measures that have been passed are allowing people to live and act illegally while the law officially must turn a blind eye. This creates inequality in the way that laws are applied to ordinary people versus people who are in a special class. So long as the state chooses not to enact policies that serve all constituents, we can expect more movements like this.
Counties all over the nation, especially rural ones, are now joining the movements. Not only are many Illinois counties getting in on the action, but even counties in Oregon have tried similar efforts in the past. Herndon, Kansas passed a 2nd Amendment preservation ordinance in 2013 similar to what happened in Effingham County.
This shows signs of a new age in American democracy where local communities will band together to protect their God-granted rights as the state increasingly looks to restrict them in unconstitutional ways. While state law may precede a number of the ordinances, these measures are an important symbolic step for individual rights advocates and a needed check against the State.