The Washington Post ran a very interesting article recently. It talks about how the crime rate in major urban areas around the US and including Washington D.C. have been significantly declining. They call the plummeting crime rate "mystifying."

I'm going to insert my tongue firmly in cheek and explain. Clearly the proliferation of dangerous weapons on the streets of cities like D.C. has lead to horrendous decreases in crime. The expiration of the Federal Assault Weapons ban five years ago has lead to nothing but widespread decreases in crimes of violence! Assault Weapons have no place but to be in our streets protecting the law abiding as is evidence by the massive decreases in injuries to children in our cities! Also, the reintroduction of handguns into the District of Columbia has done nothing but make the District a safer place where blood doesn't run in the gutters!

I know... but darn it is satisfying to use those who would undermine the bill of rights words' against them.

One of the things I loved about Adams is that it captures the spirit of serious risk to those who signed the document. The final sentence of the Declaration has always resonated for me:

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.