Saturday July 26, 2014, Open Carry Texas held their first open carry walk in Liberty County. We at the RLCCD36 tip our hats to these patriots. The event was a huge success with a large group participating. Men, women and children from Tea Parties to Liberty Conservatives marched together to remind the Texas legislature that Texan’s will stand for their second amendment rights.
An armed society is a polite society. In this we firmly believe. We firmly support not only Open Carry in the state of Texas, but Constitutional Carry.
An armed society is a polite society. In this we firmly believe. We firmly support not only Open Carry in the state of Texas, but Constitutional Carry.
As the walk got underway and the line of patriots stretched down Main St towards the courthouse, something was missing. “Don’t Tread On Me” flags, “Come and Take It” flags, as well as the USA and Texas flags waved in the wind. People walked with guns from AK’s to regular deer rifles to antique black powder revolvers. Yet, not an open handgun was to be seen. Were they there? Surely. Concealed, the only way Texas allows for them to be. Let’s cover some quick facts: Texas is one of only a handful of states that do not allow open carry of a firearm. Yes, my friends, we tend to be more on par with New York and California here. Is this normally the Lone Star State’s vision? We’d argue not. First, we think the group tries to establish, well, re-establish, the public to become comfortable once again with an openly armed society, as we were for hundreds of years. Second, those who protest these people based on gun fear usually lose on one point. They simply cannot understand why someone would carry a big rifle open in public. To this we say to the state legislature, maybe so. So, how asinine is it to allow open carry of these guns but not a handgun? We would be willing to bet the open carry of a handgun walking into an establishment would hardly bat an eye in most places. A rifle, for sure, whether you support it or not, will.
Terry Holcomb, executive director of Texas Carry who helped organize the event and former primary candidate for TX HD 18 Representative, has been a huge inspiration to many in the area. The RLCTX backed him as a challenger to sitting HD 18 Representative John Otto. Though Mr. Holcomb was unsuccessful in his run, he still strives for Liberty, and a reasonable request that our elected representatives at least have a grasp on the constitution we are to live under. He works and dedicates so much to his community and his sense of civic duty is unmatched by many.
The local RLC members present were Wesley Thomas and his family, including his three children, and Jeff LeBlanc, Chairman of the local caucus and the Vice Chairman of the RLC of Texas. “I couldn’t be more proud to walk with these men and women today. In my opinion, this is important to show our representatives that, in comparison, the right to open carry a handgun should and must be passed in the next session. I personally will work with these men to push the issue in Austin next session.” Jeff LeBlanc. Wesley Thomas stated, “The freedom to bear arms is an important issue. But, it is not as important as the freedom to educate your children in the manner of your choosing. I brought my children today because this is part of their education, and I still retain the freedom to teach them the proper way to defend our family and our neighbors. The battle to bear arms is not nearly as important as the battle for the minds of our children. That is a hill worth dying on.”
Lastly, Pastor Aubrey Vaughn, leader of the Tri-County Tea Party, later posted to his Facebook wall:
“I Walked Today
Today I walked where Patriots walked long ago. The Patriots I refer to were those brave few men and boys that showed up on Lexington Green April 19, 1775. The common green was the ‘town square’.
Captain Parker had led his militia to stand in parade-ground formation openly on the Green making a show of political and military determination. The Red Coats fired upon them even though the militia men were not blocking the road or planning to stop them from their march to Concord. The British were marching to Concord to confiscate the militia’s arms and supplies and attempt if possible to arrest their leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock who were reported to be in Lexington. Deacon Parker made the statement that reveals the resolve of those faithful few, ‘Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.’
I cannot truly compare today’s Open Carry Walk to what those 38 men and boys felt on the first round of fire from those British regulars where 8 fell dead on that fateful day.
I do not even pretend our walk was so fateful and glorious as theirs.
However, I saw and felt a similarity in our stand for free unrestrained liberty of arms and their same stand for liberty as well as arms.
In 1776, Pastor Jonas Clark described well that first battle on the first year anniversary of the Battle. The following is from his sermon, ‘The Fate of Blood-Thirsty Oppressors and God’s Tender Care of His Distressed People.’
‘…And this is the place where the fatal scene begins! They approach with the morning’s light; and more like murderers and cut-throats, than the troops of a Christian king, without provocation, without warning, when no war was proclaimed, they draw the sword of violence, upon the inhabitants of this town, and with a cruelty and barbarity, which would have made the most hardened savage blush, they shed INNOCENT BLOOD! But, 0 my God! How shall I speak! Or how describe the distress, the horror of that awful morn, that gloomy day! Yonder field can witness the innocent blood of our brethren slain! And from thence does their blood cry unto God for vengeance from the ground! There the tender father bled, and there the beloved son! There the hoary head, and there the blooming youth! And there the man in his full strength, with the man of years! They bleed, they die, not by the sword of an open enemy (with whom war is proclaimed) in the field of battle; but by the hand of those that delight in spoil, and lurk privily that they may shed innocent blood! But they bleed, they die, not in their own cause only; but in the cause of this whole people: In the cause of God, their country and posterity. And they have not bled, they shall not bleed in vain. Surely there is One that avengeth, and that will plead the cause of the injured and oppressed; and in His own way and time, will both cleanse and avenge their innocent blood. And the names of Munroe, Parker, and others, that fell victims to the rage of bloodthirsty oppressors, on that gloomy morning, shall be had in grateful remembrance, by the people of this land, and transmitted to posterity, with honour and respect, throughout all generations…’
Munroe and Parker were the names of two that died that day. Most do not know and many do not care about the sacrifice and suffering many endured for our liberties.
May we never forget those who died for us!
We have no intent to militarily oppose any in our government today; neither did they, but they were ready. They had certain rights then that were not supposed to be abridged by their British government leaders. They had fought wars for those rights as British citizens. Great Britain had a history of the English Bill of Rights and more. The 13 American Colonies could only realistically be destined to become the 13 Sovereign States in America.
The heartbeat of most Americans, then, were the realities of liberty. With all our weaknesses and failures, the same throb for liberty beats strongly for many in America today. We owe a debt to those who suffered for us. We should do no other!
Only heaven will reveal the true happenings on earth and the cost of liberty and freedom. Be faithful!
Our freedom cost the Son God, the Lord Jesus Christ, his very life’s blood. What little we do for our posterity will never compare.
Aubrey Vaughan”
“I Walked Today
Today I walked where Patriots walked long ago. The Patriots I refer to were those brave few men and boys that showed up on Lexington Green April 19, 1775. The common green was the ‘town square’.
Captain Parker had led his militia to stand in parade-ground formation openly on the Green making a show of political and military determination. The Red Coats fired upon them even though the militia men were not blocking the road or planning to stop them from their march to Concord. The British were marching to Concord to confiscate the militia’s arms and supplies and attempt if possible to arrest their leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock who were reported to be in Lexington. Deacon Parker made the statement that reveals the resolve of those faithful few, ‘Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.’
I cannot truly compare today’s Open Carry Walk to what those 38 men and boys felt on the first round of fire from those British regulars where 8 fell dead on that fateful day.
I do not even pretend our walk was so fateful and glorious as theirs.
However, I saw and felt a similarity in our stand for free unrestrained liberty of arms and their same stand for liberty as well as arms.
In 1776, Pastor Jonas Clark described well that first battle on the first year anniversary of the Battle. The following is from his sermon, ‘The Fate of Blood-Thirsty Oppressors and God’s Tender Care of His Distressed People.’
‘…And this is the place where the fatal scene begins! They approach with the morning’s light; and more like murderers and cut-throats, than the troops of a Christian king, without provocation, without warning, when no war was proclaimed, they draw the sword of violence, upon the inhabitants of this town, and with a cruelty and barbarity, which would have made the most hardened savage blush, they shed INNOCENT BLOOD! But, 0 my God! How shall I speak! Or how describe the distress, the horror of that awful morn, that gloomy day! Yonder field can witness the innocent blood of our brethren slain! And from thence does their blood cry unto God for vengeance from the ground! There the tender father bled, and there the beloved son! There the hoary head, and there the blooming youth! And there the man in his full strength, with the man of years! They bleed, they die, not by the sword of an open enemy (with whom war is proclaimed) in the field of battle; but by the hand of those that delight in spoil, and lurk privily that they may shed innocent blood! But they bleed, they die, not in their own cause only; but in the cause of this whole people: In the cause of God, their country and posterity. And they have not bled, they shall not bleed in vain. Surely there is One that avengeth, and that will plead the cause of the injured and oppressed; and in His own way and time, will both cleanse and avenge their innocent blood. And the names of Munroe, Parker, and others, that fell victims to the rage of bloodthirsty oppressors, on that gloomy morning, shall be had in grateful remembrance, by the people of this land, and transmitted to posterity, with honour and respect, throughout all generations…’
Munroe and Parker were the names of two that died that day. Most do not know and many do not care about the sacrifice and suffering many endured for our liberties.
May we never forget those who died for us!
We have no intent to militarily oppose any in our government today; neither did they, but they were ready. They had certain rights then that were not supposed to be abridged by their British government leaders. They had fought wars for those rights as British citizens. Great Britain had a history of the English Bill of Rights and more. The 13 American Colonies could only realistically be destined to become the 13 Sovereign States in America.
The heartbeat of most Americans, then, were the realities of liberty. With all our weaknesses and failures, the same throb for liberty beats strongly for many in America today. We owe a debt to those who suffered for us. We should do no other!
Only heaven will reveal the true happenings on earth and the cost of liberty and freedom. Be faithful!
Our freedom cost the Son God, the Lord Jesus Christ, his very life’s blood. What little we do for our posterity will never compare.
Aubrey Vaughan”
