Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

Published 5:44 pm Wednesday, January 23, 2013

These words from the Declaration of Independence lay the foundation for all other rights described as receiving constitutional protection,  …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.”  I want to focus on the right to life but first I would like to point out a couple of very important words the are used in conjunction with those describing some of our most important rights.

One of the most important phrases describes the source of our freedoms:  “… endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…”  We receive our freedoms from our creator.  As we are created, formed into a unique human being, we are the owners of our complete personal freedoms.  We do not receive them from a fickle government nor, from any other group or individual.  Collectively, we as a country, chose to form a constitutional government that is required to protect our rights.  The rights given to us by our Creator.    

It would appear that there are two grievous infringements on our most important personal freedom, our life.  That right to life is our to protect.  It is a right that was given to us by our Creator at the moment of creation.  If it is not given at the moment of creation then when do we receive it from our Creator?  Who passes our right to us from the Creator?  For abortion to not be a violation of our right to life, that right to life must be delivered at birth!  If we don’t have the right to life before birth at what time after we are born do we first posses that right?  Can our life be taken after we are born and before our rights are delivered?  

If we truly possess the right to life from conception, we should surely posses the right to protect our life and the liberty to possess those things needed to provide for our personal protection.  That right should include the right and responsibility to provide for the protection of those that are in our care.  There are times when we may choose to allow another party to provide for our personal protection.  If the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of rights have any meaning, they must allow us the most important of all freedoms, the freedom to seek the means to protect our own life.  

I don’t believe that I am the benefactor of the personal rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of freedom if I must first seek permission from a third party to own those things necessary to protect myself.  I do not believe that you can substitute gun laws for my right to provide for my own protection or the protection of my family.  Laws are fine but they only work if they are enforceable.  Most of our gun laws are unenforceable because of the cost of enforcing them.  Vice President Biden stated recently that our government did not have the time to review the paper work signed by gun purchasers for possible felony violations.  The term “time” when used by a government official truly means that we can’t afford the people to perform the needed work.  If we can’t afford to perform the work to enforce a law, it is unenforceable!  

If the government restricts our right to provide for the protection of our life or the lives of our children, they should be bound to provide a level of protection equal to the protection parents would provide their family.  Anything less is to rob us of the right to life!

Life being given to us by our Creator at the time of creation should extend protection to that moment of creation.  From that moment, the moment of creation, the constitution should require all necessary steps to protect our life.   Those that have responsibility for protecting our life should be held to the standard of providing protection equal to what we would provide for ourselves if we were able.  If a party allows our life to be taken then the party responsible for the loss of our life should be just as guilty of the unlawful taking of a life as the person who takes it.  That is not the standard today.  It is my opinion that the government’s failure to provide protection for the lives of our children is a violation of our children’s right to life.  We can’t allow the lives of the unborn to be taken by doctors and then demand total protection for equally defenseless children from birth.

I am sure that there are many very bright people that would argue that my opinions are flawed.  Wrong.  Then again there are many very bright people that would burn the constitution and take control of my life, liberty and my pursuit of happiness.

Ed Tyler lives in Pell City. He may be reached at ed@edtylerinc.com