Let’s Start with the only rational answer- HELL YES…
A ‘Yes’ response serves no one if expressed only as lip service in the voting booth when it comes down to making a real difference. Core principles put to action is the only action that matters in your voices and our participation in the election process.
We are learning firsthand in real time that who wins elections has far reaching impact in nearly all aspects of our lives, making a living, raising our families, pursuing our passions, and the resulting absolute nonsense of our political circus. We winch and shake our heads constantly over this as we endure. It is a simple observation of hundreds of years of recorded history, and a dash of common sense, that without the ability to defend against tyranny as a citizen from the less than honorable human traits within our own government, there is no guarantee of the first amendment which had been significantly attacked in recent years and in the quest for political power and domination of opposing parties. There are no Nobel intentions in this narcissistic effort despite the ruse that is constantly in play to disarm opponents in political realms, and anyone who does not agree with faux narratives and party dictate.
As those of us who hunt, fish, and enjoy, use, and support gun ownership, we are treated rather poorly by far too many of our elected representatives and the monster of bureaucracy that is in need of a severe financial diet and retraction of authorities. Try to imagine us as citizens that are effectively neutered of firearm ownership and can be ran over rough shod by any rogue politician or power hungry political party. Cult of personality is not a valid factor if one cares about end goals being accomplished. The reaffirmation of the second and even the first amendment may be rightfully corrected in my lifetime should we wake up and participate and vote as one voice.
Voting day is upon us, whether you participated in early voting, absentee ballot or voting in person, make it count.
I will not demand what party you should affiliate with, or whom you should vote for. If voting today, I hope each of you took the time you look up each candidate, each party, and research their platform, their positions, and most importantly their past voting records and history. Too many change and flip flop to gain votes. We need steadfast constitutionalists, representing us as stewards of our constitution and champions of the first and second amendment rights we hold dear.
I will put forth that in critical review, I might not trust the flip flopping post non violent coup after a legal primary. Anti gunners, anti hunters will flip flop to get votes, but only long enough to get in the drivers seat. Make no mistake, you will come to regret protest or cult of personality voting while falling for the ruse, voting against a candidate that supports these essential amendments down the road.
The mainstream media, and social media actively steer your feeds and searches and what is presented to you on the first pages of your searches, Be mindful that others will forcefully tell you what is fact and what is not. It is evident the fact-checkers are suspect. There is too much at stake and all the stops are being pulled. As opponents of our positions are happy in the strategy of the ends justify the means to gut the first and second amendments, disarm us, and to end hunting and fishing as dictated by special interest groups.
As a whole, gun owners, hunters, archers, trappers competition shooters, and sportsmen in our grand union and especially in New York State fail miserably in casting ballots, despite a large demographic and cross-section of the population in the nation and the Empire State. If it is not our responsibility who then should this be assigned to,? Leftist Democrats bent on a single-party rule, Marxists, Socialists, Radical Fascists? Political parties make strategic calculations based on mediocre participation and furthers the lack of respect of us by those we send to Washington to represent our concerns and core values.
To be fair, there are those among us that vote with firm conviction, educated on the issues, and especially on those candidates professed to protect our first and second amendment rights. You know who you are and my comments are not intended to disparage your good efforts.
We are being browbeaten and dictated to by those that have no understanding or working knowledge of history, the second amendment, sustainable wildlife conservation, and yet allow us to pay our way while putting a virtual knee on our necks in every aspect of our activities and inalienable rights. The same folks that are quick to assert their first amendment rights are the very same that are bent on removing the first and second amendments for conservatives, those who refuse to kneel in front of them. Do we allow by the stroke of a pen to declare firearm owners felons by merely owning a legally purchased firearm? It can be argued that treason is being committed against the citizens of our country and entirely unconstitutional on its face.
The framers of our constitution and subsequent amendments intended that the second amendment be written purposely to defend against a tyrannical government and acts of treason upon us. It is that plain and simple. I am certain that the amendment was not written in the anticipation of a unruly uprising of monster gobblers and Boone and Crockett whitetail bucks
None of us alive today were born into servitude or as serfs to kings whom we broke away from in our founding. If you give a damn about your rights and freedoms and that of your loved ones, your neighbors, your brethren, the passive response, sitting out elections is not a responsible choice, and you must exercise your rights as a citizen.
We cannot afford to sit back and continue letting others do our bidding…
Note from the author: Some of this written in part is a reposting of prior comments and well worth their inclusion here.
© 2024 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media