I have been following this movement to declare Carbon County a Second Amendment Sanctuary.

Recently the mayor of Lehighton issued a proclamation beaming over the Second Amendment. A few other boroughs/municipalities have done the same. Like a most beloved-child they beam and fawn over it while the other amendments look on, feeling neglected and unloved.

How shortsighted to let the other amendments stand in the shadows and be passed over in this love-fest over the Second Amendment.

These other amendments, and in particular those that guarantee the right to vote, are the powerhouses that give us the right to utilize the resources to approve or oppose legislation, elect officials to represent us, and give a voice to ALL of us on topics varied.

So despite the lamenting about gun rights looking a little frail, it is actually the right to vote and exercising the REAL POWER of the people that seems to be under attack and looking frail.

The right to vote has been hard-fought and not a given.

In 1776 all white men who own property had the right to vote.

By 1856 restriction in all states were removed that prevented citizens who do not own property from voting, so now all white men who are not convicted criminals can vote.

Amendment 15: Race no bar to vote (1870)

Amendment 19: Women’s suffrage (1920)

Amendment 23: Presidential vote for District of Columbia (1961)

Amendment 24: Poll tax barred (1964)

Amendment 26: Voting age set to 18 years (1971, after all, if they can send you to war, you should be able to vote for who decides to send you)

So congratulations to all who won their party’s nomination to run in the November elections. It was not the Second Amendment that did it. It was the power of the vote!

Lucy Freck

Towamensing Township