Musings of a Dumb Ass

Musings of a Dumb Ass..... Is freedom a state of mind? An idea? An attitude? How does it stack up as a reality? In the 1800's and much of the 1900's an American could carry a weapon in his hand, as a side arm, or completely concealed. To protect us from ourselves the powers that be started encroaching on those rights with the idea that civilized people don't need to protect themselves from each other, then with the idea that the law would protect us from the lawless, therefore firearms would be more of a danger than a protective devise, and we would legislate ourselves to safety. Finally, we were told that only those of us who were willing to register our weapons owned with the powers that be, and now go through training could own firearms. Also those of us who would possess a weapon legally would have to pass judgement through a scrutinizing look at our past and if we do not conform to the approved behavioural patterns we are denied the right to possess, although anyone who wants to circumvent the law can readily purchase a gun. The background check that divulges a felony conviction is one that denies your right to owning and possessing a weapon, even though your felony may have nothing to do with violence and instead be convictions for insufficient checks or even the failure to pay court ordered child support. When a right is governed by the satisfaction of many forms of behaviour are we still in a state of freedom? If we accept the premise of total protection provided by the powers that be, and take no personal part in it, accepting the remedial judgements as final, are we in a state of freedom? If we feel we're free does that make it so? Or if we feel we're oppressed, does that make it so? We live in a far different society than that of my Father and Grandfather, and I'm old enough to remember both. Today's world has little resemblance to either generation's from such a short time ago. In the last few days a city of 70,000 or so north of me put an ordinance in effect banning smoking in all public places and there's an issue on the ballot to be voted on statewide in November asking that the state tax on a package of cigarettes be increased to about a dollar a package in total. As a former smoker from 17 years ago who still occasionally is tempted to 'light up', I must confess that I find smoking totally nasty and it stinks to high heaven, plus I have no doubt it will kill some of us. Having said that, it still strikes me as highly oppressive for our government both federal and local to behave the way they are about the issue. It would seem to me the answer would be to make the sale, possession and manufacture of tobacco products illegal in this country rather than beat everybody to death by degrees as it is being done. Better be careful how you smoke, drink alchohol, or have sex. But Thank God we're free!!!!!!!!!...... and forget the gun, that's just too much trouble nowadays........ but if you do shoot someone, don't be smoking when you do it