Have you read the Bill of Rights?

[Tesha]

I often read posts by folks here where they
call for some limitation or other on the rights
of some group or other. This causes me to wonder:

Have *YOU* read the Bill of Rights?

And (putting aside the issue of the 2nd
Amendment where I *KNOW* we have major
disagreements), do you agree with the
rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights
or do you think restrictions should be
placed upon those rights?

For your convenience, I've attached a copy
of the Bill of Rights below this message.

Tesha



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.

[spanone]

1. Yes.....I'll bet our President has not.

[bdamomma]

8. also bush has not read the Constitution

as he said "it's just GD piece of paper". What dic-tator.

[Kenergy]

2. With the exception of the 2nd Amendment,

I like them just the way they are written. The 2nd could have been worded better though imo.

[bowens43]

3. IMO opinion the Amendment that seems to be forgotten most

often is Amendment IX:

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

Another thing that so many seem to forget is that the Constitution does not grant us rights. We are born with rights. The Constitution and it's Bill of Rights places limitations on Government, not on the people.

[One_Life_To_Give]

4. 7th is outdated

20 dollars then is not the same as 20 dollars now.

[Ioo]

6. not really, $20 is the LOW end, and the LOW end never really gets old...

It just means that now almost all things can ask for a jury trial...

[Minnesota Libra]

5. They are great the way they are, the 2nd needs clarification so as........

.....to be fair to those who want to own guns as well as those who do not. Other than that our Founding Fathers pretty much got it right.:patriot:

[MindPilot]

7. I think we need a Right to Privacy amendment. eom

[serryjw]

11. I always believed it was built into the 4th

n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. I agree with these amendments,

including the second. Thanks for the review of them all.

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. I have a copy on my PDA

It, along with other great classics in the public domain, are my reading of choice when I travel or am otherwise out of reading material.

I believe that some restrictions are necessary ("fire in a crowded theater", for example.) However, any and all restrictions should be carefully limited in scope so as to preserve the rights as far as possible.

[melm00se]

12. the most overlooked

(and trampled) amendment is

#10

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.