Columns
Our inheritable Bill of Rights is being plundered
VINNY MARTINEZ, Guest columnist
Published: September 13, 2012
The Bill of Rights, constitutes the first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and are enumerated as follows:Published: September 13, 2012
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 re-examined 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.
Our Founding Fathers gave us these Amendments in their order of importance. The First Amendment is the right to worship God freely and helps to anchor the moral character of the nation. The right of free speech, including the right to share God with others, go hand in hand. The Second Amendment and the right to bear arms are essential to protect and defend our rights to keep our nation free.
Our Founding Fathers acknowledged the existence of God at the onset of this nation's liberation from a tyrannical government and the Declaration of Independence clearly states that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Abraham Lincoln, considered the Declaration of Independence as a statement of principles through which the United States Constitution should be interpreted.
Every American citizen has inherited these individual rights and America has tried to share them with the rest of the world. We are the exceptional nation of free and brave people and the provenience of God helped make it happen. Some have taken these rights for granted not realizing how they came about and how many American patriots gave the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I can enjoy them today.
Can you image if tomorrow you woke up and founded out the Bill of Rights were plundered away and left you without legal protection from the government. Instead you were told the government was now in control of everything and was going to provide all your needs including; free contraceptives, free medical care, free housing, free food stamps, and for you not to worry about making any decisions for the government was there for that purpose. Sounds like the rancher taking care of his cattle, and then having them slaughtered.
Under a government that controls everything, its leaders will run the government according to their own moral values and will impose their values on their servitude. Probably without the First Amendment, the government could mandate that worshiping God was no longer allowed. The government has tried to remove God and the Ten Commandments from the public arena by claiming the term "separation of church and state" to be in the Constitution, when it is not. What is in the Constitution is for the government not to interfere with the affairs of the church. Keep in mind some of the Founding Fathers acknowledged the existence of God and adopted the national motto for America to be "In God We Trust".
"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." By President George Washington Our inherited Bill of Rights may soon become something of the past, unless we do something about it. Will this be the generation that will not pass it on?
"We the people" still have a chance to pass on to future generations our inheritance to remain a "free" nation with individual rights. Your vote on Nov. 6, 2012 is that critical.
Vinny Martinez is a Brooksville resident.