2004 Volume 1

Elections 2004 - Your Chance to Vote for Firearms and Freedom

By Edwin Herrendorfer

Are you voting this year? Or are you so fed up with things in this country that you've decided to give the upcoming General Elections a skip? There seems to be no hope, no future…Crime is skyrocketing; the financial outlook is frightening; there are no jobs; the education system has gone to the dogs; the government is disarming law-abiding citizens; etc. A bleak picture, but think again.

While we all may feel like abstaining from voting - for various, obvious reasons - we have a responsibility, not only towards ourselves and our country, but also towards our children and those who cannot speak for themselves. Whatever step you decide to take, remember that your decision could impact on whether or not you are able to purchase, register, carry and use your firearm (or when the need arises defend yourself, your loved ones, property and dignity, for that matter).

Your basic freedoms and rights are at stake. If you hold these principles dear, then you must vote.

To give an example: Many township dwellers in SA have indicated that they simply won't vote this year. And no-one can blame them. Since the first elections in 1994 when most Black people had such high expectations and voted over-whelmingly for the ANC, nothing much has changed. In 1999, when Thabo Mbeki was voted into power, they still went and gave the ANC the majority it needed. Since then, things have gone from bad to worse. Now, they've had enough. They cannot see themselves voting when the only people who are benefiting are those they voted into power. While they are suffering and battling with poverty, lack of jobs, housing, education and more, those in power live in the lap of luxury, oblivious to the unfulfilled promises they had made on their election campaigns.

Instead of these voters now changing to another party that truly has their interests at heart, they decide not to vote at all. Many more will continue voting for the ANC, simply because of what the ANC historically meant to them, subjecting themselves to more years of worsening hardships.

It doesn't make sense, but that's the reality. The longer people have this kind of mentality, the longer the wrong party stays in power - and the greater our woes and problems.

Deciding on which party to vote for shouldn't be as difficult as many people make it out to be. If you know what you want, or hope for, then screen the parties and choose the one that seem to stand for what you want or believe in. Don't make the mistake of voting for a party simply because a friend or family member, colleague, or others are voting for it (or because your great grandparents were devoted to it and now you feel you should too). Being loyal to one party, even when it drastically changes its policies for the worse, is the cause of some of our biggest problems. By doing this, we are keeping the wrong party in power, even if it abuses that power beyond measure. We also need to note that there is hardly any loyalty in politics.

The people who can make a difference are the citizenship of a country. We are the ones who can vote a certain party into power, and make it live up to its promises by taking a stand and reminding those we've elected to live up to their pre-election promises. If we vote, sit back and watch them abuse the position we've given them and do nothing then we are just as guilty as those who didn't even bother to vote.

Isaiah 1:23 “Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them.”

According to the Bible, God is the ultimate authority, above all governments in the world. Isaiah 9:6 states, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor.” The Bible also makes clear that no government has the right to control and impose on people's personal freedoms. As put in Psalm 119:45 ”I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out Your precepts.”

Therefore, the people we elect must be trustworthy and transparent, something we have a problem with in the current SA government and those serving in parliament. We need God-fearing men and women who practise the Word of God in all aspects of their lives. Daniel 6:4 “At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”

1 Corinthians 8:9 ”Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”

In conclusion, and in a nutshell: Decide what you want, screen the political parties, make your choice and vote. You have no choice, but to vote. It could mean life or death.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” 2 Corinthians 3:17

(For more info on where the various political parties in South Africa stand regarding these issues and others, please visit www.savotersguide.com for the Biblical Voters' Guide).