Guns Across America...Florida Style
“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.”
U.S. Constitution, 2nd Amendment
They came out, slowly at first, but as the noon hour neared, the reports of long lines of traffic jamming the entrance to the Hernando County Fair started coming in. By the time Audrey Southard took the stage to belt out an amazing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, the numbers of attendees gathered for the ‘Guns Across America Florida 2nd Amendment Support Rally’ had easily exceeded the 2000 mark, and according to co-hosts Deb Howard and Damon Locke, the official counters had given up trying to count the still growing crowd.
Looking around at the signs, Gadsden Flags, and posters, one might simply think this rally was only about gun rights and speaking out against the recent tide of anti-gun sentiment and legislation. However, it was very apparent from the beginning talk that this was about so much more; it was Patriotic, Constitution and Freedom loving Americans from all walks of life and ages, coming together to peacefully demonstrate and learn about the meat of the issues and what can be done.
Men and women who get it and understand the very real threats posed to our freedoms and future, and who understand that they are today’s Minutemen/women; fighting anew that which our Founding Fathers risked their lives, families, and fortunes for. They know that without maintaining, unabridged, this critical glue that holds the rest of the Constitution together, the United States of America will quickly fall under certain tyranny; which is why our very wise founders made it the center piece of the Bill of Rights in the first place.
The array of speakers was remarkable and inspiring, starting with the impassioned ‘Patrick Henry,’ (aka Harry McKay) whose re-enactment of the famous ‘Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death’ speech had as much fire behind it as I imagine the original must have had, to the uplifting words of Pastors Jack Martin, Rodney Howard-Browne and prayers of Daniel McGehee. In between all of them, we heard the stories of former Florida Senator and gun shop owner Carey Baker, Florida Rep. Jimmie T. Smith, and U.S. Army Colonel, (Ret.), former candidate Mike McCalister. There were many more, all offering their part of the story which is restoring this great nation and stopping those that seek to destroy her.
Near the end of the talks, several in the gathering posed questions of the speaking platform, the most important of which was on everyone’s mind; and that is, loosely paraphrased, “….all the speeches and prayers are all well and good, but what’s next?! We’re all on the same page, but where do we go from here and what do we do now?!”
The answer from the stage, also loosely paraphrased, “….the next step is on February 8th, 2013, when they will converge, en mass, across America, to draw a line in the sand and have their voices heard as never before by the politicians in the capitals of each state and Washington D.C.; to reiterate what the Spartans of long ago said when they were told to lay down their arms and be spared; “Molon Labe,” (pronounced “mow lawn la vay,” and translates to “come and get them”).”