You are Losing Your Rights for Nothing
What are your rights?
The United States Constitution was an innovative document that established limits upon the United States government. It was innovative in that rather than declaring a list of ways in which the people were subject to the power of the government, it instead clearly defined the limits of governmental power. In order to make sure that there was no confusion, the Bill of Rights added 10 new rules to the constitution, explicitly and clearly listing a number of things that the government was not allowed to do, and assuring the citizens freedom from the government in a number of areas.
For those who don't know the Bill of Rights, here are the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.In case you are wondering, the ones in red are the ones that in my opinion are no longer being honored by the government.
#2: The right of people to keep and bear arms:
The liberals can't seem to pass new gun control laws fast enough. It's virtually impossible to legally carry a gun for self defense in many parts of this country, and tremendous pressure is being placed against the gun industry at large. The 9th Circuit US Court recently decided that this no longer means that individual private citizens have a constitutionally protected right to own and bear firearms. No matter that there are hundreds of pages written by the same people who wrote this amendment all explaining that it was enacted to protect private ownership of weapons!
#4: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures
Ever try to get on a plane since 9/11? Or enter a court house? I've had to take off my shoes, my belt, unzip my pants so a woman could examine my waistband and pelvic area, give up tiny mustache trimming scissors to security, etc etc just to travel for my job and to visit relatives. This process falls under "unreasonable search and seizure" in my book.
If that wasn't bad enough, the Republican sponsored "Patriot" Act lets the government tap your phones, copy and read your email, view the web sites you surf, obtain lists of movies you rent and books you borrow, all without telling you if they "suspect" you of being a terrorist. Note: suspect means nothing more than a hunch, belief or suspicion, and thus no evidence or probable causes is required to get this information about you. If any of the people that provide this information (such as your ISP or library) about you to the government lets you know they are spying on you, the person who tells you is guilty of a crime. So much for protection from "unreasonable search".
#5 nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law
Remember the "Patriot Act"? If the government merely suspects someone of terrorism, they can toss the suspect in jail without trial, and keep them from communicating with the outside world. No evidence, to probably cause or anything else needed. Just "suspicion" and *poof* a citizen can disappear. . . I guess due process now means nothing more than sticking a gun in your face and taking you off to a cell. . .
Another appalling trend are the cities that now confiscate the cars of people who allegedly are soliciting sex from prostitutes. Several cities now seize your car and either auction it off or allow you to buy it back for the price of whatever equity you have in if they suspect you of soliciting sex from a prostitute. They set up a sting, put some provocatively dressed female police officers on the street and make them act like prostitutes. When some schmuck comes along and tries to pick them up, he looses his car. No trial, no jury *poof* car gone. Sounds like "due process" gets skipped in these cases . . .
#6-7 Right to a speedy trial by jury
Not after the Patriot Act. No trial, evidence or probable cause is needed if you are "suspected" of terrorism. In the cell you go, no right to a phone call, lawyer, or anything else Americans have previously been entitled to!
#10: If it's not in the constitution, it's up to each state and/or person to decide what is right and wrong
If people still believed in this amendment, we wouldn't see federal laws being enacted telling us under what conditions it's ok to have an abortion, whether or not "medicinal" marijuana is legal, etc. The whole issue of "gay marriage" shouldn't even be examined by the Federal government according to this amendment, yet people keep talking of trying to make a constitutional amendment to outlaw it. . .
