Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Bill of Rights

In case anyone out there hasn't read the US Constitution in awhile, here is a refresher on our Bill of Rights. When I read thru them the other day (for the first time in a very long time) and really thought back to our forefathers, fighting for our freedoms, I was filled will all sorts of powerful feelings.

(I shouldn't need to put this definition in here, but I will anyway:)

Definition of the Bill of Rights: The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. These amendments protect individual rights against government intrusion.

THE BILL OF RIGHTS

First Amendment: 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.

Second Amendment: 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.

Third Amendment: 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.

Fourth Amendment: 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.

Fifth Amendment: 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 offence 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.

Sixth Amendment: 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 defence.

Seventh Amendment: 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.

Eighth Amendment: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Ninth Amendment: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Tenth Amendment: 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.

13 comments:

larry said...

Thank you! This should be weekly reading for those interested in remaining a free people.

Bon vivant said...

Would to Goddess our government schools indoctrinated all their pupils with it for 12 years.

BTW, I'm amazed at the 7th. $20? What were they thinking? So, did they assume these 10 amendments would be revised as needed? I would hope so. Why else would they leave 'state's rights' so ambiguous. leaving us with the tyranny we live with today under the Fed's thumb.

Simply What Matters said...

Thank you for posting this. I don't think the Bill of Rights or the Constitution should be revised. They have a purpose to keep our Nation strong & true. If they are revised according to the will of come who may... it would strongly diminish the USA rapidly imo. Love your site!Especially love the photo on this page... you are so organized! Love it!

Blessings,
Brenda of www.LordandCurtiss.ws

FALIA REVIEWS: said...

larry - I agree whole heartedly

Bon Vivant - The value of a "dollar" in the Constitution meant a coin containing 371.25 grains (troy) of fine silver or 24.75 grains (troy) of gold. This fact can be found historically in many places, including http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/what-is-a-dollar/. In 1792, when the Mint Act was passed, the dollar was officially pegged to silver or gold. The ammendments never needed to be revised, things were better and correct the way they were stated in the Constitution - Dollars used to actually have value and were backed with gold and silver. Our forefathers never intended for us to have a fiat currency like we've got today - valueless, not backed by anything, printed out of thin air by the Federal Reserve Bank (a privately owned company, NOT part of our government). When the Constitution said a "dollar," they meant a REAL one, backed by gold and silver. All the laws and ammendments that have been created thru the years have slowly stripped away our freedoms to the point that we are now fighting to keep our most basic ones - freedom of speech, the right to assemble, etc... Our country is not nearly as free as it used to be not that long ago, and it is all because of the new laws and ammendments that have been burying a once perfect Constitution.

FALIA REVIEWS: said...

Brenda - yep I agree with that completely, thanks so much for posting a comment. Also, I do try to stay organized... clutter drives me nuts! :)

FALIA REVIEWS: said...

Just another quick note on the "dollar" ... Since the creation of the Federal Reserve Bank in 1913, the dollar has lost 95% of it's value/purchasing power thru inflation, just because they keep on printing them.... This is what the Constitution originally sought to prevent.

Some things to research relating to all this are how on Andrew Jackson's gravestone, it said "I killed the banks," and how Lincoln and Kennedy were also both trying to protect our nation's money supply.

It is really sad that our Constitution has fallen to the wayside.. One thing to know about, too, is how the 2010 coinage act (this year) is going to eliminate copper from our currency because the actual value of the metal (copper) inside our coins is worth MORE than the value of our money itself. Ugh. Hold onto the Bill of Rights! :) And hold onto your pre-1982 pennies.

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed your last 2 posts!! thankyou!

FALIA REVIEWS: said...

OGT - thanks, i appreciate that :) I've been working on another post for the past 2 days and am finally almost done with it... hopefully i'll get it up tonight

eye4media said...

I agree with you 100% on everything you've said here. Please people, vote responsibly this year & in 2012.

Redbeard said...

Folks always ask me, "Redbeard, are you a repuglican or a demobrat?" with that same low brow, emphasis given through sun blinded eyes from years in the middle east, and through that mane of red fur by sun chapped lips, I reply, "Sir I am neither...I am an American." I am a constitutionalist if you would have to put me somewhere. The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution is unique. It spells out all things that governments have done worldwide to sequester the humanity of their citizens and gives us protection against them. No one amendment supercedes the other, but the second in particular gives the People, who hold all power in this nation, the right, by cause, to defend themselves against the bootheel of tyranny. Take that one right, which be God given and Blood earned, away from the people and all is lost.
Mel Gibson said it best in the film, "Patriot." "Why would I trade one tyrant 3000 miles away for 3000 tyrants, one mile away. An elected legislature can trample a man's rights as easily as a king can." This simple, anti-opression, free will statement signifies the same unconquerable spirit that our founding fathers held in their hearts when they forged this nation. This spirit is not new.
King Leonidas of Sparta said two words that shatter the chains of time. Molon Labe, come take.
William Wallace said,"We come here with no peaceful intent, but ready for battle, determined to avenge our wrongs and set our country free. Let your masters come and attack us: we are ready to meet them beard to beard." Can I get a hallelujah for the spirit of defiance in the face of tyranny?
We are a nation, of unified sovereign citizens. Unified by our love of freedom and our precious constitution. But our constitution is not only a document, it is the salt we patriots are made of. It is the hammer used to forge us in the fire of freedom. Shall we petition our government to address grievances? I do sincerely think that time has come.
Furthermore I do so solemnly and sincerely, promise and swear that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic.
Redbeard out!


Redbeard said...

The Oath of the Rifleman
by Redbeard

I am an American Rifleman…
No one is more skilled than I…
My rifle is more than a tool…
My rifle is an extension of my spirit…
I use my skills to defend and never to attack in malice…
I know that I may be called upon to save a life…
To save that life I may have to take a life…
I will never take joy in this…
I will never be perfect in this life…
My rifle will be perfect for me…
I will be focused and true at all times…
I will always take true aim…
I will hold my breath and squeeze…
I will never anticipate…
I will call the shot…
I will carry on the rifleman tradition…
Should my nation need this rifleman, to her will I go…
Should I die in her service to the next man will my rifle go!
I am an American Rifleman…

Redbeard said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez6LMM4sPbc

Unknown said...

Your blogs are fantastic, useful and your articles are wonderful.
glock-doc.com