Wayne LaPierre, EVP and CEO of the NRA, sets the stage for 2010.

Indeed, the right of self-defense is the single most basic human right of all. The ability to defend oneself is a guarantee of the right to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” held dear by Americans since the forging of our nation. It is why the Second Amendment, and the individual right of self-defense, was so important to our founding fathers.

For all the screaming about “rights” that a lot of people do, it’s amazing to me how they don’t believe a right to preserve yourself also exists. Your major religions all understand and acknowledge it; the Founding Fathers certainly did. Folks, if you can’t preserve yourself, none of those other rights matter. We’ve become a very insulated society, which is some ways is a sign of progress and improvement, but “out of sight, out of mind” certainly causes us to forget or never understand the historic fundamentals.

When you have gang members saying

“Buy a gun,” a member of a recently busted inner-city gang told The Buffalo News last week when asked what could be done to curtail homicides. “Hey, I’m just being honest. You asked.”

it demonstrates the world does have enough bad apples willing to spoil your day and the rest of you and your family’s lives. (note, don’t just “buy a gun” but “buy a gun and get some solid training in how to use it”).

We shall see what 2010 brings politically, and we shall do what we can to help bring about favorable change. Meantime, see what you can do to help improve things around here.