Like a lot of Americans, especially those who opposed the election of Barack Obama, I was shocked by images of Black Panthers standing at the doors of a polling place in Philadelphia with a club. I was appalled by what looked to be voter intimidation, and applauded when the Department of Justice brought up King Samir Shabazz on charges related to the incident. I was also outraged when the Obama administration walked away from those charges.
The other day Mr. Shabazz was stopped by police in New York because they saw that he was wearing body armor under his clothing. I wasn’t aware that it was illegal to wear body armor in New York City, but now that I see it in the news, I’m not surprised. Police officers patted Mr. Shabazz down, and found an “unlicensed” revolver on him. Now, he faces years in jail for the crime of not having permission from the state to keep and bear arms.
Now, I don’t agree with Mr. Shabazz on most things. He has openly called for racial violence and is alleged to have intimidated voters in the 2008 election. I doubt that he and I could have much of a civil discussion about anything of substance. But you know what? That doesn’t matter at all, or at least it shouldn’t. He is my equal before the law. The highest law in the land, our Constitution, states that we are born with the right to keep and bear arms, and he has been arrested for doing so. He is not under investigation for a crime of violence, but merely for not having begged for permission to exercise the rights that were granted to him as he took his first breath, and we should stand with him.
If we really mean what we say about gun rights, it’s time to put up or shut up. A fellow citizen is threatened with loss of his liberty for exercising those rights, and we need to stand with him. It’s easy to support someone who looks like you, or believes the same things you do. Do we have the courage to support someone who we disagree with, who actively spouts hatred our way, when he is prosecuted for exercising those rights?
I hope we do.
DaddyBear’s Den 
derfreiheit
/ June 26, 2013Bold, very, very bold. So where do we go to support this if we do want to put up?
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daddybear71
/ June 26, 2013Good question. I’m keeping an eye out for a legal defense fund or something. If I learn anything, I’ll update.
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daddybear71
/ June 26, 2013I guess my thoughts run to the way that a lot of people expressed outrage and offered moral, legal, and monetary support when people from our side got caught up in NYC’s gun laws.
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Frank
/ June 26, 2013All I’ve got to say about this is…Yup.
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hollychism
/ June 27, 2013I have no problems with supporting that man’s rights to protect himself in whatever way he prefers…however, should he ever appear in my vicinity, I will put a bullet in his head because I would be in fear for my life and those of my children because of his particular ideology.
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daddybear71
/ June 27, 2013Never said he was a model example of human kindness and brotherhood.
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hollychism
/ June 27, 2013That said, if I had the money, and could find somewhere to donate it (and he would accept money from a white woman in the Midwest), I’d help support his legal defense fund.
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daddybear71
/ June 27, 2013I’m still trying to find out if there is one.
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The Old Man
/ June 27, 2013Rights for one are rights for all citizens. Though I disagree with his professed ideology, he has the same rights as any other citizen.
Period.
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Erin Palette
/ June 28, 2013I’m sorry, but — no, I can’t. I won’t. I cannot find it in me to help someone who has declared me to be his enemy because of the color of my skin.
Y’all can go ahead and help him, and I won’t judge you. Philosophically, I agree with the rightness of your cause. But I can’t make myself defend the rights of someone who sought to deprive others of their rights.
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daddybear71
/ June 28, 2013You make a good point, Erin. Thanks for not condemning those with whom you disagree.
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Erin Palette
/ June 28, 2013Why should I condemn someone for making an excellent logical point? I cannot fault your reasoning at all. My own personal ethics prevent me from applying your logic, but I can still appreciate a good argument.
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daddybear71
/ June 28, 2013Just thanking you for not being someone who takes personal issue with someone over something like this.
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Erin Palette
/ June 28, 2013You’re very welcome! Thank YOU for not calling ME a bad gunnie. 😀
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