Each Independence Day, I’m reminded that my time in the military was spent fighting for the governing principles that make America the freest, most prosperous, and greatest cCountry in history. At a time when these governing principles are constantly attacked and undermined by a bloated and weaponized federal government, we must remember the government overreach from which our Founding Fathers so desperately sought independence.
In the early 1700s, King George III and the British Parliament continued to strip away freedoms from American colonists. The king overrode the judicial system, set up new and bloated agencies, and enabled his government not only to harass the people, but refused to protect them from foreign threats. King George was a tyrant, and the colonists could take no more. The numerous and egregious violations of freedoms ultimately culminated with the Declaration of Independence.
Today, the American people are grateful for the freedom to address our grievances through the political process. The colonists did not have that liberty.
We cannot, however, deny the striking similarities between the grievances of our Founding Fathers and those of Americans today. When the Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, he just unleashed another one — blatantly circumventing the Supreme Court. President Biden and his administration have constantly and nefariously weaponized government agencies against the American people — for example, hiring 80,000 new IRS agents, or the Department of Justice’s targeted prosecution of pro-life activists.
The most striking similarity, however? Refusing to protect American citizens from foreign threats. President Biden and his enablers have completely abdicated all responsibility for securing our southern border. He began his term by removing every successful border policy in place from the Trump administration.
As a result, 7.2 million illegal foreign nationals have entered the United States under Biden’s watch — many of whom appear on watch lists, have terrorist or cartel connections, or are just criminals in general. More than seven million illegals — that’s greater than the population of 36 states combined.
The Declaration of Independence states that we are created equal, that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Remembering what occurred on July 4, 1776 gives me hope for our nation — it’s our roadmap for restoring our republic. By treating all Americans equally under the law, respecting their rights, and protecting them from outside threats, we can move past the damage caused by this weaponized regime and enjoy the blessing of American liberty, for which our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to fight.
Rep. Scott Perry, a former Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, enlisted in the Army in 1980, attended basic training at Fort Dix, and graduated from the Advanced Individual Training at Fort Belvoir as a technical drafting specialist. He graduated as the president of his Officer Candidate School class and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Field Artillery. Over the course of his career, he earned qualifications in almost every aircraft in the Army’s rotary wing inventory, as well as the hard-earned rating of Instructor Pilot. He’s commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade levels; notably, then-Lieutenant Colonel Perry commanded the 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, which deployed to Iraq from 2009-2010, and during which he flew 44 combat missions.
In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel, became Commander of the Fort Indiantown Gap National Training Site, and was selected to attend the coveted United States Army War College — from which he earned a master’s degree in Strategic Studies. Perry was selected for promotion to the rank of Brigadier General in 2014, and served as the Assistant Division Commander of the 28th Infantry Division — the Army’s oldest, actively-serving Division. After serving in his final position as Assistant Adjutant General, Brigadier General Perry retired on March 1 2019, upon nearly 40 years of military service.