The author of a book I read recently compares the effect of the Baby Boomer generation on the economy to a python swallowing a pig. The image portrayed was of this huge lump slowly moving though a snake’s body illustrating the dramatic impact large numbers of Americans moving into their retirement years will have on various economic factors.

Not surprisingly, as we watch television and read various publications, it has become clear that this phenomenon has not been lost on politicians. I suspect much of the rhetoric we will be hearing during the upcoming political season will concern topics relating to taxes, who should pay then and in what proportion.

We are fortunate to live in the most prosperous nation in the world. Tens of thousands of Americans are millionaires and, according to Forbes Magazine, a billion dollars ($1,000,000,000.00) was simply not enough to get a person’s name onto a list of the 400 richest folks in America this year.

Well now, these are the kind of facts that make for heated political debates,\. Should the rich be taxed more? How about those estate taxes, the Alternative Minimum Tax, capital gains, etc. etc. etc. What does this have to do with the Second Amendment, you ask. Well, it occurs to me that these questions may be related to concerns we have about laws pertaining to gun ownership, e.g. how much, and what kind of authority are Americans willing to give to government to regulate their lives?

For decades, immigrants have flocked to our shores seeking citizenship and a chance ot participate in the American Dream. The understanding has always been that hard work and commitment will yield and opportunity to prosper without having to worry that some despotic monarch or government official, like the Sheriff of Nottingham, might step in and take it away.

So now we find ourselves in the midst of another political season. Suddenly, on every front, politicians are leaping from the forest claiming to be Robin Hood or an important member of his merry band. A good thing? All these folks willing to be public servants and look out for the interest of us “average Americans”. Yet, as we listen to the many speeches and debates to come, our main concern should probably be focused on just who gets to be Robin Hood. Who gets to decide which Americans have now made enough money and should be subject to higher taxes? Who will decide how much of a person’s life savings the government will allow to be passed on to their kids before the IRS takes another 45% of it? This upcoming election is important to gun owners because, my guess is, it will likely be these same folks who will decide which Americans can legally own firearms and which firearms the will be allowed to own.