The Preamble to the Declaration of Independence attests: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
The Founding Fathers took great risks to write the document that was to create a nation that in its future would be built on the foundations of truths that they had read in the Bible whether the Founders personally believed or did not believe in those truths themselves.
The truths that are stated in the Declaration of Independence are self-evident and endowed by the Creator. They are unalienable or inalienable rights. It was John Locke in the 17th century that contemplated the idea that life, liberty and property were rights every person had and that those rights could not be taken away. Thomas Jefferson later took Locke’s concept and incorporated it into the Declaration adding the pursuit of happiness.
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”—is the next line after the rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness are declared. Governments derive their powers from the consent or vote of the governed or the people who live under the government’s rule. The government is instituted to secure or protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all.
There is a question that arises when we read that the Government is instituted to secure these rights. Those who stand from afar and watch tragedies unroll before their eyes throughout America. Those of us who send our prayers, condolences, and thoughts are questioning the role of the men and women in government who we, as the governed have elected.
What have and should the elected be doing to secure or protect the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of Americans, to prevent an unstable individual with a combat ready semi-automatic weapon to intrude and violate the rights of innocent people who are going about their daily lives attending their church to worship God, as in Sutherland Springs, or simply attending an outdoor concert, attending school, shopping, strolling down a busy city street, or seeking diversion at a theater or in a night club?
The tipping point has been reached. Too many innocents have died or have suffered life changing wounds. “Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter it.” The people have a right to alter the government when it has become destructive to the rights given by the Creator. Alteration will come when responsible voters exercise the power of the VOTE.
The burden has been placed on those who have the privilege of voting to actively engage in altering or changing the government by placing in office those who will help preserve the inalienable rights of all Americans. It is time to remove those elected officials who are working to destroy the principles that have been declared for all the governed: life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness and make sure that they are never allowed to hold public office again.