The 2nd Ammendment..

I am going to skip the 1st amendment for the moment. It is very important but today I felt more inclined to focus on the second amendment. "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." It is more of a topic in my part of the world than anything else right now.

We are not card carrying members of the NRA (National Rifle Association) but my hubby and I both grew up handling and shooting hand guns and rifles. He of course is a lot better at it than I am but it also a part of his livelihood. Rumors have been around for years that the government wants to take away a citizens rights to keep and bare arms. Again it is just rumor and the Constitution is fairly blunt on this subject, however it has not stop law makers from imposing laws and taxes on firearms and who is allowed to legally carry them.

It is a fact we need laws that govern firearms and it is not necessarily the current laws that I have issue with. It is the increase of rumors that threaten gun owners with higher taxes, the talk of making homeowners carry liability insurance for accidental discharge and the banning of ammunition that troubles me. Again these are all mostly rumors but based on current and past legislation in our United States that have touched on all these issues.

I am pro hand gun safety. I have had guns in my before I had children. Our children have grown up shooting and handling guns as soon as they were old enough to hold a gun. Like many children in the U.S. mine too have been desensitized by T.V. and video games but they have a healthy sense of respect and awe when it comes to guns and gun safety. They know the power and understand the damage a firearm can cause and it has made them cautious. Knowledge is the key to gun safety. It worked for me and my parents as I grew up in rural America and it works for me and my children in the Suburbs.

My worry at the moment at least is the price of ammunition. It's not that we can't find ammo to purchase however the price is ridiculous. Peoples fears have them stock piling the stuff. We enjoy target shooting every once in a while but with the price of ammo we can no longer afford it. Shotgun shells are still relatively cheap but even those prices have gone up. Thankfully I can hit the broad side of a barn so I really don't need that much target practice. I like clay shooting but I wont be doing much of that until I get the proper equipment.

My point is that millions of Americans are responsible arms owners. There are a few people who spoil the privilege for every one else by being careless. I however do not blame the vehicle for the accident. It is the driver that is to blame. I am not saying that sometimes there is a mechanical failure but a skilled driver can usually overcome the handicap. I firmly believe that guns do not kill people do. If guns did not exist people would find something else to use as a weapon. I should know I see it almost daily what people will use to harm themselves and others. It is usually not a gun although people in general use the threat of guns very often. In my experience, the most common form of death is old age or disease.

Unfortunately, the only cure for violence would be the dissection of aggression from human nature. I know this sounds cliche but it has always made sense to me. If the government manages to legislate and tax its citizens out of the ability to own arms; the only people who will have guns will be the police/military and the bad guys. I personally do not want to rely on the response time of a police officer when the bad guy is busting down my door.

A nations whose citizens can not protect it self from its government is usually referred to as a military state or a dictatorship.

Just some food for thought.

My husband's latest obsession!!!

Not that I mind. I had a good time and as soon as I get a shotgun I can shoot comfortably, it maybe my new obsession.



My hubby has always been very handy around guns and rifles but he was recently introduced to sport clay shooting and he really likes it.



Our son enjoyed it too and gave his father a run for his money.



I only hit 27 clays out of 100 but I am amazed I hit any at all.



This is a very nice shotgun but it turned my chest and arm into mush. The bruises are just starting to fade. If only it had a shorter stock life would be sweet........

I feel so stupid.

NO pictures today.

I left my camera at home.

The girls and I took a trip to Orlando to visit Universal for the day.

8 hours of fun in the glorious Florida sunshine.

Nice cool balmy spring weather with no rain.

I was really bummed. I left my camera at home.

Digging through my purse guess what I found.

In the little pocket where I always keep it is My Camera.

I had it with me the entire day.

Thankfully, I will carry the memory of the awesome day with me forever.




P.S. My daughter and I had a conversation that made me cry. She will be 18 in 15 months. I had to share this. Let me know if you need tissues.

My Orchids.

 

When we moved into our home more than several years ago, we inherited a house with assorted fruit trees and hanging plants. Due to the age of the trees and a Hurricane, we have lost all our fruit trees. The last of the hanging orchids were gathered and stuck in a corner after our tangerine tree was cut down and hauled away last year. We have no more trees in our back yard to hang them on and somehow they have survived with no help from me.

 

I have nothing but good intentions. The poor things have run amok and there roots are plastered to the sides of their containers.

 

Dead branches from years of old blooms.

 

I gathered my supplies and dig in.



Who needs dirt when you can use wood chips and little styrofoam balls



I pulled out my little OneNote so I could follow the replanting instructions to the letter..... Okay maybe not to the letter but the instructions were helpful.



Eventually I gave up the fight of trying to peel the Orchid gone wild from its plastic home and just hung it back up on the tree. It may live longer than the ones I transplanted.



Here is one of the poor Orchids I transplanted...... Please pray it lives.

Shopping at the Home Depot!

 

 

 

 

Very Scary!!!!

The Preamble of Our Constitution

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

This statement establishes that the federal government has no authority outside of what follows the preamble, as amended. The Federalists thought that during this time there was no need for a bill of rights as they thought that the preamble spelled out the people's rights clearly.

It is interesting to note that I have always been aware of the Federalists Papers but apparently I was asleep during that class and did not realize just how important these 85 articles were to the creation and ratification of the original constitution. So I will be reading a few of the more important articles over the next several days and see what I learn.

I will no longer be a sheep.

I have tried very had to stay out of politics but as winter turns into spring and I observe to condition of our Union and the direction our Law Makers are taking, I find myself afraid for my children adn their future for the first time of my life. I can no longer bury my head in the sand but neither will I lay blame on any specific individual. If I lay blame I must blame myself for being little more than a sheep. I have heard the term more frequently and at first I was angry. I insisted I am not or never have been a sheep but in reality that is exactly what I have become. I look up every once in a while to see whats going on and deem it unimportant and promptly go back to grazing.

I can not do this anymore.

I have decided to not only educate myself but to pass on to anyone that is interested. I am going to try to be biased but I am a Republican so I will try to do the best that I can. I don't think I could do any worse than our news papers. I will try to stick to the truth.

I am going to start by learning about our constitution. Over the next several weeks I am going to post our constitution and all its amendments. It is time to leave the safety of the mob, open my eyes and think for myself for a change.