by David Codrea

January 21, 2002

KeepAndBearArms.com -- I picked up the morning mail today and received the following letter from a woman in Oklahoma City who also had recruited 7 signatures for the Petition for Enforcement of the Second Amendment:

Dear Sir,

I had a hard time getting people to sign this. I found out people are scared of the government, at least here in Oklahoma. I wish they would stand up and fight for their rights. I don't understand. But it is hard to get it across to them. Sorry there are not more signatures.

Good luck and may God be with you always, or at least the greater Spirit (p.c. version- he he).

Live long and fight hard.

Ms __________

Here is my reply:


Dear Ms __________,

Thank you for making the effort to collect signatures. It is tragic that the heirs of American patriots, many of whom gave their lives to establish a system of government specifically designed "to secure the blessings of liberty," are too fearful to even speak up in defense of those principles— it shows how far we have allowed our "servants" to stray from their original employment contract, the Constitution, and the inalienable guarantees codified in the Bill of Rights. It is also sad they do not realize it is the Second Amendment that is their ultimate guarantor against such fears.

I thank you for your dedication in spite of this. Please take heart that, even in this nation's founding struggle, many opposed or did not join their freedom-minded countrymen out of fear and conditioned subservience— and that courage still prevailed.

Thanks to patriots like you our ranks are over 14,000-strong and growing every day as more Americans learn about this important effort. And may God, the greatest spirit, bless you and yours.

With respect and gratitude,

David Codrea

P.S.— Cowards are a liability on the front lines anyway, so who needs ‘em? We'll march without them and "may [their] chains rest lightly."

I thought I'd share this with you in case you know anyone who has expressed similar reservations against adding their name to ours. I have to admit, I'm scared of the government, too— after all, if they catch me defying one of their unconstitutional edicts, they will destroy my life. And I don't consider myself particularly brave, either— but in the end, it doesn't matter if you're afraid as much as it does how you handle your fear, and what you do in spite of it.

And ultimately, my choice is directed by fear anyway. Because what scares me more than anything is the thought of my children inheriting the lot of slaves, and not being able to look them in the eye because I was petrified, not even man enough to try casting off my yoke when I had the chance.