CHRISTIAN MEDIA RESEARCH - Newsletter

Friday, April 19, 2002, is the 227th anniversary of "Patriot's Day." The word "patriot" is derived from the Latin root pater, meaning, "father." The PATRIOTS that defied government gun control at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 227 years ago, were the "FATHERS" of American freedom and liberty under God.

The minutemen confronted the British, believing that the God of the Bible had given them RIGHTS that were not subject to control or "infringement" by earthly governments.

For two decades before the war began, the American colonists had experienced rapid and uncontrolled growth in government, taxation, and the resulting loss of RIGHTS. Government had claimed a right to pass laws overriding any RIGHTS of the people. The colonists had given in to government and allowed its growth and increasing control and "tyranny," but the right to keep firearms, they understood, was their final and most important right. The time had come for government control, not gun control.

By 1775, the American colonists had segregated into three distinct groups. About one-third of the colonists, the Tories, openly supported the bloated bureaucracy of the British. One-third of the colonists were uncommitted and disinterested. The final one-third were the true Patriots, the "Americans," that put their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor on the line in the American revolution.

In March of 1775, Patrick Henry told the colonists that war with the government was inevitable. He gave a powerful speech that ended with:

"I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."

War with the legal, constitutional government was inevitable, and it was obvious. Mrs. Lucy Hosmer wrote in her diary, just hours before Paul Revere began his "midnight ride," that:

"...for months now, our household, and those of our neighbors, have given over the major portions of our lives to the task of preparing Concord for war...what I mind more than the hiding of weapons is the need to watch out for Tories and spies amongst our townspeople... last night Joseph and I drove by ox team two wagon loads of ammunition from Acton to hide on Deacon Jonathan Hosmer's farm...."

When 800 British troops departed from Boston late on the evening of April 18, 1775, and began marching toward Lexington and Concord 16 miles away, Paul Revere mounted his horse and rode off for two reasons. First, his destination was the Reverend Jonas Clarke's house, to warn his guests Sam Adams and John Hancock. The British had decided to arrest them to stop the "anti-government" propaganda spewing from both men. Second, Revere would warn the minutemen along the route, and the town of Concord, of the approaching military force.

Near daybreak, some 65 men stood shoulder to shoulder and confronted the British troops at the town common in Lexington. Militia commander Captain John Parker ordered the minutemen to, "Stand your ground! Don't fire unless fired upon! But if they mean to have a war, then let it begin here!"

The American Revolutionary War did begin that morning. It began because the legal, constitutional government tried to enforce GUN CONTROL upon the good and decent citizens. The patriotic Americans would not, and did not, submit their God-given rights to government.

For the first time in the history of man, government was placed in submission to the people, who were in submission to the God of the Bible. The American Revolution established the order to life as - God > Man > Government. But on this 227th anniversary of "Patriot's Day" we find the order reversed - Government > Man > God.

April 22, 2002 -- Doug Hudson

See Also

How Governments Disarm Citizens

Shortwave Wars