Those Who Forget History – Are Doomed to Repeat It

The Story Behind The Story

This essay is from an anonymous author – very likely a Native American.
True

Here’s some history that you might recall but is applicable today:

December 29, 2012 marked the 122nd Anniversary of the murder of
297 Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation in South Dakota. These 297 people, in their winter camp,
were murdered by federal agents and members of the 7th Cavalry who
had come to confiscate their firearms “for their own safety and
protection”. The slaughter began AFTER the majority of the Sioux had
peacefully turned in their firearms. When the final round had flown,
of the 297 dead or dying, two thirds (200) were women and children.
Around 40 members of the 7th Cavalry were killed, over half cut
down by friendly fire from the Hotchkiss guns of their overzealous
comrades-in-arms. Twenty members of the 7th Cavalry were deemed
“National Heroes” and awarded the Medal of Honor for their acts of
cowardice.
We do not hear of Wounded Knee today. It is not mentioned in our
history classes or books. What little does exist about Wounded Knee
is normally the sanitized “Official Government Explanation” or the
historically and factually inaccurate depictions of the events
leading up to the massacre on the movie screen.
Wounded Knee was among the first federally backed gun confiscation
attempts in United States history. It ended in the senseless murder
of 297 people.
Before you jump on the emotionally charged bandwagon for
gun-control, take a moment to reflect on the real purpose of the
Second Amendment- The right of the people to take up arms in defense
of themselves, their families, and property in the face of invading
armies or an oppressive government. The argument that the Second
Amendment only applies to hunting and target shooting is asinine.
When the United States Constitution was drafted “hunting” was an
everyday chore carried out by men and women to put meat on the table
each night, and “target shooting” was an unheard of concept, musket
balls were a precious commodity in the wilds of early America, and
were certainly not wasted “target shooting”. The Second Amendment was
written by people who fled oppressive and tyrannical regimes in
Europe, and refers to the right of American citizens to be armed for
defense purposes should such tyranny rise in the United States.
As time goes on the average citizen in the United States continues
to lose personal freedom or “liberty”. Far too many times unjust
bills are passed and signed into law under the guise of “for your
safety” or “for protection”. The Patriot Act signed into law by G.W.
Bush, then expanded and continued by Barack Obama is just one of many
examples of American citizens being stripped of their rights and
privacy for “safety”. Now, the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is on the
table, and will, most likely be taken away for “our safety”.
Before any American citizen blindly accepts whatever new firearms
legislation that is about to be doled out, they should stop and think
about something for just one minute-
Evil does exist in our world. It always has and always will.
Throughout history evil people have committed evil acts. In the Bible
one of the first stories is that of Cain killing Abel. We cannot
legislate “evil” into extinction. Good people will abide by the law,
defective people will always find a way around it.
And another thought, Evil exists all around us but looking back at
the historical record of the past 200 years across the globe, where
is “evil” and “malevolence” most often found? In the hands of those
with the power- governments. That greatest human tragedies on record
and the largest loss of innocent human life can be attributed to
governments. Who do governments target? “Scapegoats” and “enemies”
within their own borders…but only after they have been disarmed to
the point where they are no longer a threat. Ask any Native American,
and they will tell you it was inferior technology and lack of arms
that contributed to their demise. Ask any Armenian why it was so easy
for the Turks to exterminate millions of them, and they will answer
“We were disarmed before it happened”. Ask any Jew what Hitler’s
first step prior to the mass murders of the Holocaust was-
confiscation of firearms from the people.
Wounded Knee is the prime example of why the Second Amendment
exists, and why we shouldn’t be in such a hurry to surrender our
Right to Bear Arms. Without the Second Amendment we have no right to
defend ourselves and our families.
The first shots and battle of the Revolutionary War was fought
because the British Army attempted to confiscate firearms.