The Fourth of July has become an ironic holiday. We celebrate our independence from Britain. Independence that was prompted by unfair taxation from a much too powerful central authority. Independence that was accomplished with the use of military grade weapons. And while we celebrate this Independence, we have (1) become complacent with unfair taxation from a much too powerful central authority; and (2) have people apart of that central authority claiming we shouldn’t be allowed to own weapons that are now below military grade. So, when you celebrate the Fourth, think about why we are celebrating and what we are celebrating. And remember those reasons as you go forward to “participate” in this “democracy” which has begun to lean into the ideals that those who fought in the revolutionary war sought to abolish.