Internet Lies

If it is necessary to lie to support a position, that position is most certainly on shaky ground.

In April 2018, Senator and former Presidential candidate Ted Cruz of Texas grilled Mark Zuckerberg over his perception that Facebook suppresses conservative news.   With that in mind, I began collecting conservative posts that find their way onto my Facebook account.

The most recent was posted by a young lady who should know better, but is so concerned that government may try to control firearms in our country that she re-posted a blatant lie in the name of protecting the 2nd Amendment.  It purports to be a historical marker placed on an unnamed Texas roadside,  It quotes, accurately, the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution.  It then goes on to quote George Washington in an attempt to show that our first President suggested citizens be armed against the government.  That is not simply inaccurate, it is a shameless lie.

In his speech before Congress in 1790, George Washington said, "Among the many interesting objects, which will engage your attention, that of providing for the common defence (sic) will merit particular regard. To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.

A free people ought not only to be armed but disciplined; to which end a Uniform and well digested plan is requisite: And their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories (sic), as tend to render them independent on others, for essential, particularly for military supplies.

The proper establishment of the Troops which may be deemed indispensible (sic), will be entitled to mature consideration. In the arrangements which may be made respecting it, it will be of importance to conciliate the comfortable support of the Officers and Soldiers with a due regard to economy."

While we are on the subject, the phrase "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state" is frequently overlooked when the 2nd Amendment is discussed.   the term 'militia' is discussed elsewhere in the Constitution, giving perhaps a clearer view of the intent of the 2nd Amendment and those who framed the document that rules our nation.

Article I, Congress Section 8
15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

Article II Executive, Section 2
1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; . . . 

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Finally, for this particular post anyway, I'd like to quote President Washington one more time.   In his farewell speech of 1796, he said,  "The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government."