The first, and ultimate, civil right is the right to self-defense.  Without it, none of the others mean anything.  Why would the government prefer to define an area in which I am not allowed to protect my family and myself from preditors (both two-legged and four-legged)?  Why would the government prefer to define an area in which only the bad guys have guns?  It simply does not make sense.

The right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is not some abstract phrase that we should only bring up when we want to appear patriotic.  It must, at all times, be the guiding beacon for all those in public service.  You either believe in individual freedom and those afformentioned rights, or you don't.  This rule will define your position and how you think about the public's "certain unalienable rights".

Thank you,

Alan K. Gideon