douglassmt
Well Known Member
Today I was struck in a unusual way about the freedoms we enjoy in this country. Just before daybreak I took off from Missoula, Montana in an airplane that I assembled with my own two hands from parts made by a private company in Oregon. The government had almost nothing to do with either my work or the manufacturer's product yet the machine performed flawlessly. When I took off I didn't need or ask for permission. I didn't need a clearance. Nobody objected, in fact nobody probably noticed as it is so routine. I flew over our beautiful first national park enroute to Casper, WY for a short work visit, then flew to Billings. In Billings I walked into the private aviation terminal with a cased shotgun that I was selling to a friend. We exchanged cash for the gun in the lobby. Nobody noticed. It was completely legal and nobody even turned a head to wonder what I was doing with a cased firearm, much less selling it. Then I flew home to Missoula, passing over some of the most beautiful scenery in our fine country to land just after dark. There may be another country that enjoys these same types of freedoms but I don't know where it is. Regardless, despite these contentious times within our country, let us not forget how fortunate we are compared to the rest of the world.
I hope this doesn't violate any posting rules, just want to remind us all how fortunate we are. I certainly am.
I hope this doesn't violate any posting rules, just want to remind us all how fortunate we are. I certainly am.