And now a word from Col. Jeff Cooper
It is an uphill struggle, but I wish that we could distinguish more carefully between freedom and liberty. These conditions are not the same, though they are certainly related.
Freedom is the absence of restraint – a physical circumstance.
Liberty, on the other hand, is a political situation denoting the lawful capability of the citizen to defend himself and his near and dear without interference from the state.
Note that the Declaration of Independence forcibly and particularly establishes the blessings of liberty upon ourselves and our posterity. I like to carry a pocket copy of the Declaration, plus the Constitution, in my travels. It is a good thing to have in hand when discussions arise.
This is a good lesson. Just read the Bill of Rights today and see how far off the beam we’ve gone. Words matter. After all, we worship and serve the Eternal Word.
