Self-defense is not just a right, but an obligation. That is a fundamental part of The Price of Liberty’s philosophy. One established by our founder Mama Liberty (Lady Susan). And which we share with many lovers of liberty and those who not just study but try to apply biblical principles and the lessons of history.
Indeed, this has been the situation throughout history. Starting with Cain bashing his brother Abel with a rock, we have needed to defend ourselves, our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our communities. And of course, not just against humans: critturs from rattlesnakes to wolves and mountain lions are threats in the wrong place and time.
One of the most recent local governments to recognize this need and right in concrete terms is in Alaska, as related in this story. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly (located northeast of Anchorage) urges its citizens to have adequate arms and ammo and be prepared. Not just to defend themselves and their homes and businesses, but to be the actual first responders in case of emergency.
It seems that the State of Texas (nee Republic of Texas) is rejecting the decision of the United States Supreme Court (a 5-4 ruling) that everyone understands will allow the Border Patrol to cut barbed tape at a 47-acre park in Eagle Pass, Texas.
In a story in the pro-FedGov Texas Tribune, it is claimed that Governor Abbott provides no proof that Uncle Joe and his regime is failing to enforce federal laws by allowing and assisting tens of thousands of people – migrants – to jump the border (river) and enter the State of Texas. Clearly, the media supports the “supremacy” of the FedGov over the States, even when the FedGov refuses to enforce its own laws. And indeed, breaks its own laws.
A lot of folks (including that same Texas Tribune) are saying the defiance of the Nazgul by Texas is reaching a crescendo that will result in a new Battle of Eagle Pass. A violent confrontation between FedGov agents – possibly even military – and Texan troops.
Another attack on the evils of the Supreme Court – from the Woke “left” (and not lovers of liberty) has popped up. It features a case called Moore v. US, about post-ex-defacto action by Congress to steal still more money from taxpayers (from overseas) than ever. The law (2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA)) is a nasty one that let the FedGov steal an additional 340 billion dollars in just five or six years.
But the article claims the wrong decision will destroy the entire FedGov tax system.
Yes, please stop cheering, dear reader, long enough to finish reading this commentary! We agree!
Do you know what a “hate crime” is? When you hear (or read) something, can you determine whether it is “hate speech?” A school in California is not concerned by some students telling Jewish students that all Jews and Israelis should be killed. The educrats investigated and determined that was not “hate speech” but just political speech. How did they determine that? How would you, dear reader, decide?
Take a good long look at yourself in the mirror. Look at your family with objective eyes. Stop and look at the people you talk to at your local hangout, in your congregation’s meetinghouse, and any groups you belong to. And ask. Am I an enemy of the state? Are these people enemies of the state?
Are we?
Maybe. The Feds seem to be concerned that extremists must be watched carefully by banks and credit-card companies. The report is that following on the pandemic panic and the chaos at the Capitol on 6 January 2021 the Treasury Department asked banks to search customer records for clues to “extremism.”
Specifically, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) told banks to look for clues to who might be threats to the FedGov and involved in or planning to follow up on the so-called insurrection in DC that day. Clues? Using words like “Trump” and “MAGA” and buying religious texts (Bibles, Qurans, Book of Mormon, perhaps the Bhagavad Gita?), as well as “suspicious” purchases of transportation services and, of course, guns and ammunition,
This information came as the result of several congresscritturs trying to investigate this action and others by FinCEN. They ask if this is an indication that FinCEN is not respectful of “fundamental civil liberties.”
This year, TPOL hopes to have more guest commentary from friends of liberty. Yes, even minarchists now and then.
Conner Boyock is the publisher and often writer of the increasingly popular Tuttle Twins series and other books for homeschoolers and general parental training. This is an edited extract from a recent email/commentary:
As we gear up for 2024, I thought maybe we could skip the clichéd resolutions about gym memberships and fad diets, and instead talk about some unique and actionable ways to spread the flames of liberty and prosperity this year.
So here’s my not-your-average list of resolutions for making a real difference in 2024:
Now and then we look back at history and consider some questions about liberty, aggression, and conflict in general.
Commonly we are taught that the AmerInd (“Native Americans” or “Indigenous People”) were people who were above all at one with nature and peaceful, able to ensure justice for all, and at liberty to live meaningful lives. Then, we are told, the colonizers, the conquerers came: first the Spanish and Portuguese, then the English and Spanish (and more). These colonizers, we are informed, not only committed genocide and robbed the peoples of the misnamed “New World” and destroyed their cultures, societies, languages, and economies.
Today, the LandBack movement demands that some land “stolen” from the various AmerInd tribes by the evil white people and their governments be returned. Starting with the vast lands of the Great Plains and Great Basin. It seems more and more people are demanding this. At the same time, the FedGov and State governments are kowtowing to demands that the tribes that once owned some lands are often given veto power over proposals for development and use of those lands: mining, pipelines, even flight paths, and viewsheds.
Many of the States are in the deep freeze again this week, after nasty cold and a fair amount of snow (here and there) engulf the North American continent. A few days of slightly warmer weather have been a blessing: some snow has even melted! But now, it is once again time for five layers of clothing and a second pair of socks under those boots!
It probably is not directly the fault of the FedGov or any State governments. (I know – we here at TPOL are so disappointed and no doubt many readers are as well.) Perhaps indirectly?
But of course, to many social justice warriors, those who are woke, so-called “progressives” (who are really regressives), this is one more proof of the validity of their faith.
Well, doesn’t that just about tear it completely? Despite the clear majority will in this country that weapons be banned from “critical” or “sensitive” locations, some turkey of a judge has decided that the Federal law that has banned firearms in US Post Offices for decades is unconstitutional!
The website BearingArms.com spread the news about this abominable act, citing a story by Reuters. The judge, of course, is suspect to the Nth degree: she was appointed to her bench in Florida by that evil monster Trump. This one judge seems to think her opinion (and the SCOTUS decision she cited) can override the wisdom of our Congressmen who passed the law in 1972: more than a half-century ago!
In April, the Nebraska Legislature passed a statewide constitutional carry bill and declared that regulating firearms is a statewide concern. The legislation also declared existing local firearm laws void and revoked local governments’ power to regulate guns.
However, the cities of Omaha and Lincoln enacted local ordinances and issued executive orders to restrict firearms from city property, which the firearms owners group says includes public parks and sidewalks. So several gun-owner groups and other organizationsn are suing them as reported back before Christmas.
(We note that California’s ban on carrying weapons in public is also on hold pending a decision regarding its constitutionality, as reported by the Western Journal.)
This state-by-state method has long been a tactic of hoplophobes and hoploclasts across the board. City after city has tried to follow the long (and now banned) New York State Sullivan Law technique. Cities such as Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco have long touted it. It doesn’t work.
Tribes and smaller communities have also failed to prevent gun violence and murders by banning open or concealed carry. It doesn’t work.
So what does? One tactic seems to be allowing and encouraging the open carry of firearms by peaceful and law-abiding citizens. It seems to fill Heinlein’s Law requirements: An armed society is a peaceful and polite society.” Making guns illegal does not stop criminals from breaking the law! Knowing they stand a good chance of an untimely death seems to do a lot better.
But utopia is NOT an option. Human beings from Cain on have attacked other humans (often with little or no provocation) and initiated deadly force. Turning the other cheek does work, as long as the initiator of the force is not intentionally seeking the death or serious injury of their victim. And if the aggressor has some degree of moral compass working.
Today, fewer and fewer people DO have a functioning moral compass. They are constantly told that humans (including themselves) are just another kind of animal. And an animal that is out of control and destroying the planet. So is it a surprise that they see squashing a cockroach or killing a sparrow as different only in degree from offing that old guy or that kid who has the Adidas shoes (or whatever) that they covet? Or for that matter, blowing their own brains out or killing themselves with an overdose?
That does not of course, keep other brainwashed, Woke, naive, and just plain stupid people from trying to outlaw or ban guns in private hands and on private belts. And it most certainly does not keep greedy, over-ambition-ridden politicians from catering to that segment of voters. So we get to deal with the likes of Newsom and Trudeau and Martinez. These people are not stupid – these politicians. But they lust after power and wealth – and see this as a way to get those things.
This leaves us who love liberty and also think that guns are pretty neat and fun – AND useful – with few options. We must educate others (and ourselves), we must be vocal, go the extra mile in complying with those things that aid our liberty (and resisting those things which do not). We must use and not abuse our liberties. And sometimes that resistance will require responding to violence with violence. Not initiating it. We must avoid becoming like our enemies.
But we can do it – defend our freedoms, help others to gain liberty – and protect ourselves, our families and friends and neighbors – and live well.
The Price of Liberty 
Can more counties follow the lead of an Alaska borough?
Self-defense is not just a right, but an obligation. That is a fundamental part of The Price of Liberty’s philosophy. One established by our founder Mama Liberty (Lady Susan). And which we share with many lovers of liberty and those who not just study but try to apply biblical principles and the lessons of history.
Indeed, this has been the situation throughout history. Starting with Cain bashing his brother Abel with a rock, we have needed to defend ourselves, our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our communities. And of course, not just against humans: critturs from rattlesnakes to wolves and mountain lions are threats in the wrong place and time.
One of the most recent local governments to recognize this need and right in concrete terms is in Alaska, as related in this story. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly (located northeast of Anchorage) urges its citizens to have adequate arms and ammo and be prepared. Not just to defend themselves and their homes and businesses, but to be the actual first responders in case of emergency.
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