We stayed in Fairfax for our recent visit to Virginia and the Nation’s Capital. It was much cheaper than staying in the District and parking was free. Of course that meant we had to drive to a Metro Park & Ride, and get stuck in the awful traffic that seems to permanently plague 66, but our location also led us to an unexpected discovery… the National Firearms Museum.
When we saw the sign at our exit we kind of chuckled. The museum might be more important than ever if Barack Obama is elected. A visit would also likely make a great topic for blog fodder. But we had no idea how extensive the museum would be or how much we would learn.
If you don’t know (we didn’t) the museum is located at the bottom of the National Rifle Association head quarters. Certainly that should not be a surprise, I can not imagine a collection so vast or complete if it was managed by anyone other than the NRA. In the multiple museum galleries, we saw hundreds of guns, each with its own story. From the “hand cannons” that were used on Columbus’ voyage to the personal firearm of President Dwight D. Eisenhower emblazoned with five stars and the initials DDE. We also saw guns from the Revolutionary War to the current war in Iraq, and everything in between, along with Annie Oakley’s rifle, a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun, and a musical shooting gallery. They even had the 1,000,000th Ruger .22 pistol and a lightsaber prop from Star Wars.
From learning that Eli Whitney was an arms dealer (I should have known that) to seeing a letter that President Theodore Roosevelt sent to the NRA expressing his appreciation for their work accompanied by his payment of $25 for lifetime membership… there was a quite a bit of history to learn and explore. But the overarching theme was not about the guns, but how the guns led to American freedoms.
America’s use and appreciation of firearms gave decisive victory to the Rough Riders and our troops in Desert Storm. Firearms enabled early Americans to keep their freedoms and today help law enforcement to keep the peace. Our right to bear arms protected citizens from red coats in the past and still protects us from an overbearing government to this day. The second amendment not only guarantees the first amendment, it guarantees the entire Constitution. And if we ever allow it to be taken away, all of the rest of our rights will surely follow.
Its probably not politically correct, but unlike some things, this would be a worthwhile field trip for school children and adults alike. Americans need to respect firearms and understand their place in American history. A history without them would not be as safe or as free.
I can’t encourage you enough to visit the National Firearms Museum. Be prepared to spend a while and learn. There are thousands of firearms, each with its own story. Together they weave a history of America that is both interesting and effective. Freedom is not, nor has it ever been free.
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