The simple definition courtesy of Merriam-Webster: belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc.
Trust is an important concept for all beings, but especially in humans. Trust allows us to proceed with confidence that what we see, what we are told, the relationship we share with another is based on truth and honesty. Being suspicious creatures at heart, trust is earned over time and through evidence of good deeds or intentions. But for as long as it takes to develop trust, it can be destroyed instantly through lies, deceit or collusion.
The trust we place in the people around us is the foundation of a civilization. We trust the officials we have given the authority to govern and regulate our society will do so not in their own best interest, but in ours. We trust they will respect the laws of land and of humanity in general. We trust them with our safety, security and our very lives.
This year more than any, our trust as United States citizens is being tested. We are being told that changes need to be made for our own good, in our best interest – not for the benefit of a select few. We’re being told that the majority of us actually support these changes and we should as well.
At a time in our nation’s history when firearm ownership is at an all time high and violent crime is at historic lows, and continuing to trend downwards, we are told we have a gun violence crisis. This ‘crisis’, the narrative goes, can only be solved through new and severe restrictions of our rights to own firearms. We are told the authority exists to make these news laws without our consent.
We are told the only way to prevent criminals from using guns illegally is to prevent the law abiding from having them. We are told we do not need the best and most effective means of protecting our lives and our families. We are told we can only have a certain, limited set of non-intimidating firearms. We are told we cannot have enough ammunition to practice and prepare for our personal defense. We are told we can only have these if we pay new fees, new taxes and subject ourselves to constant and intense scrutiny by our government. We are told we cannot be trusted to safely defend ourselves. And of course, we are told nobody wants to take the firearms we already have.
We are not being told the truth.
We look at what is going on in our communities and around the country, and we see the attacks on our Second Amendment rights ourselves. We see politicians and the elite, surrounded by the very firearms they say we should not be able to own. We see states, counties and municipalities imposing more and more restrictive firearms and ammunition laws. Laws which will never prevent criminals from obtaining firearms or committing acts of violence. Laws which only burden the law abiding citizen – turning them in to criminals overnight with the stroke of a pen for daring to defend themselves.
We can see the truth.
This is a very important year for the Second Amendment and for our country. At the heart of it, is who do we as citizens trust. Do we trust in the foundations of our nation, do we trust in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Do we trust in ourselves to be able to make the right choices for our families and ourselves?
Who do you trust?
Bob
#oddstuffing, #trust, #2ndamendment #constitution