Your right to be obnoxious

To my thinking, the Second Amendment is the most important part of the entire Constitution.

 "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." 

The second most important Amendment is the First.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

A subsequent Amendment makes these Amendments apply to state governments as well.

Some will argue the First Amendment is more valuable. I direct your attention to China. Words sparked the revolution there. Tanks flattened it. The pen may be mightier than the sword, but unless you use that pen and slam it into the eye and into the brain of someone, it's not much of a physical weapon. History proves, over and over, might may not make right, but it sure as hell wins.

With the stage set, I bring you this news. From the organizers: People are also encouraged to utilize there [sic] second amendment right at this event just incase [sic] our first amendment comes under the much anticipated [sic] attack.

These bikers are planning to give the First Amendment a vigorous workout. They are also prepared to protect that exercise with an application of the Second Amendment. I support the bikers. I say any time a person's right to life and liberty are compromised, he is being oppressed.

My bud Greg Millette asked: So, Ben, just exactly how are these protestors being oppressed by the worshipers attending Friday evening prayer services at this Arizona mosque? Or by Islam in general?

To which I replied: Any time a person's life and liberty are threatened, this is oppression. 

Any time a person does something that brings no harm to anyone and the result of that action is an attack on life and liberty, this is oppression.

You also make an assumption, i.e. that the men here are not oppressed by the worshippers at this mosque. We do have evidence that two Islamist radicals bent on death to others attended that mosque. This says oppression can be found at this mosque.

Islamist adherents are busy all over the world killing people who do not agree with their weltanschauung. This is oppression.

These bikers' actions bring harm to no one. Their actions may draw out those who seek to oppress others.

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

You are certainly within your rights to call these bikers idiots, morons, etc etc etc. I tell you: Offensive speech needs the protection of the First Amendment backed by the Second Amendment. If your speech offends no one, it needs no protection.
You may, rightly, accuse them of provoking a reaction. I tell you people who intend to shut you down need an excuse and will find one, now or later. They are coming. You can draw them out and deal with them now or wait and let them stage a sneak attack.

As I told Greg, perspective matters. I have a view of this matter I hope none of you ever have to experience. Charlie Hebdo is me.

My right to free speech was attacked, with violence and malice aforethought. Looking over the aftermath of the shooting (yes, same shooter in both cases), I am equally convinced that my personal application of the Second Amendment is what kept myself and my family alive. In short, the attacker ran like a bat out of hell from my yard because he knew I was on the way with a loaded gun to reply to his message in kind.

Few people can be the next Thomas Paine. Few can be Chris Kyle. Anyone can, and should, have an opinion. Everyone can, and should, have the ability to defend themselves against people who take offense to that opinion.

Offensive statements must be said. Must be. Freedom of the mind must be preserved. This is where liberty begins. That liberty has to be protected with the freedom to bear arms because a pen cannot kill an attacker at 100 yards.