If you’re anti-gun, can you really celebrate Independence Day?
Ian Haworth
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As June comes to an end, we witness a bizarre shift in American culture from the month-long, cult-like celebration of “pride” to a single day dedicated to patriotism.
Despite their growing national self-hatred, even some of the most woke among us will still don their favorite stars-and-stripes outfits and enjoy beer, hot dogs, fireworks, and — in the unlikely event that they’re employed — a day off.
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But while they wish each other “Happy July 4th,” let’s not forget: This day commemorates Independence Day — celebrating the Declaration of Independence, ratified by the Second Continental Congress almost 250 years ago.
And this got me thinking: If you’re anti-gun, can you truly celebrate Independence Day?
First, if we consider the text of the document commemorated on July 4, we’re reminded of the foundation of the country itself:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
And in this context, what are these “certain unalienable Rights,” in addition to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”? Well, what about the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution?
More specifically, what about the Second Amendment?
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
To celebrate the independence of the United States is to celebrate its founding and foundational principles. Given that gun rights stood second only to thought-based freedoms outlined in the First Amendment — including freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly — they undeniably stand as a fundamental pillar of America’s identity.
Second, we must also ask: How was independence achieved?
Because yes, the Declaration of Independence itself was a pivotal moment in American history, but its long-lasting importance was only confirmed by the actions of patriots who embraced and applied their unalienable right to “keep and bear Arms” in order to fight for their unalienable right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Without gun rights, the American Revolutionary War would have been absurdly short-lived.
Now, this is not to say that being critical of specific areas of gun-related policy — or even the Second Amendment itself — is un-American. After all, debate is another foundational element of the American experiment.
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But it’s important to remember that Independence Day is not about stars-and-stripes bikinis or fireworks or a day off work, but about the hard-fought independence of the United States over a tyrannical government in defense of unalienable rights, and understanding that such independence was only possible due to the right of the people to keep and bear arms — a right that has always existed, exists today, and will continue to exist.
If you deny that, then you deny the reality of the day you claim to be celebrating.
Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) is the host of Off Limits with Ian Haworth. You can also find him on Substack.