Rest in Peace James Buckley
Yesterday, Jim Buckley was laid to rest in his beloved Sharon, Connecticut, surrounded by family and friends. Sharon itself is an important town in history for the modern conservative movement. In 1960, Bill together with Jim, along with his family and other Young Conservatives leaders, founded Young Americans for Freedom (YAF).
I had the honor of serving in various capacities with Young Americans for Freedom in my youth, culminating with a term on the national board. I think it is appropriate, in honor of Jim, Bill, and the entire family, to republish the Sharon Statement:
The Sharon Statement
Adopted by the Young Americans for Freedom in conference at Sharon, Conn., September 9-11, 1960. In this time of moral and political crisis, it is the responsibility of the youth of America to affirm certain eternal truths. We, as young conservatives, believe:
- That foremost among the transcendent values is the individual’s use of his God-given free will, whence derives his right to be free from the restrictions of arbitrary force;
- That liberty is indivisible, and that political freedom cannot long exist without economic freedom;
- That the purposes of government are to protect these freedoms through the preservation of internal order, the provision of national defense, and the administration of justice;
- That when government ventures beyond these rightful functions, it accumulates power which tends to diminish order and liberty;
- That the Constitution of the United States is the best arrangement yet devised for empowering government to fulfill its proper role, while restraining it from the concentration and abuse of power;
- That the genius of the Constitution—the division of powers—is summed up in the clause which reserves primacy to the several states, or to the people, in those spheres not specifically delegated to the Federal Government;
- That the market economy, allocating resources by the free play of supply and demand, is the single economic system compatible with the requirements of personal freedom and constitutional government, and that it is at the same time the most productive supplier of human needs;
- That when government interferes with the work of the market economy, it tends to reduce the moral and physical strength of the nation; that when it takes from one man to bestow on another, it diminishes the incentive of the first, the integrity of the second, and the moral autonomy of both;
- That we will be free only so long as the national sovereignty of the United States is secure: that history shows periods of freedom are rare, and can exist only when free citizens concertedly defend their rights against all enemies;
- That the forces of international Communism are, at present, the greatest single threat to these liberties;
- That the United States should stress victory over, rather than coexistence with, this menace; and
- That American foreign policy must be judged by this criterion: does it serve the just interests of the United States?
The conservative movement has lost a great man, and an even greater leader. Rest in peace, Jim Buckley.
Patriots Podium Episode #8 Featuring Tom King
On the 8th Episode of Patriots Podium, I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Tom King, the President of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association. It is more important than ever that we advocate for our 2nd amendment rights. Democrats pounce on every opportunity they can to strip our rights away, and people like Tom are fighting on the front lines. We cover an array of topics regarding the Rifle and Pistol Association’s advocacy, how we can protect our 2nd amendment rights, and legal cases such as State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Last year, this historic victory came before the United States Supreme Court that ruled Americans have the right to concealed carry. Hear firsthand from Tom King about his efforts and the significance of the decision.
The podcast will premiere on all of our social media accounts Monday, 8/28. However, you can view early on any of the platforms below, feel free to give us a like and share!