It's a pretty safe bet that most Americans know what the Bill of Rights is, considering that it's a principal document in the nation's founding and history.
Unfortunately, many of us might find ourselves struggling to recall more than a few of its most important items. What's worse, many Americans aren't even aware of the fact that the Bill of Rights has been completely and treacherously undermined.
Let us take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Let's go all the way back to 1789, where the First Congress--yes, the very first one-- proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution "in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of [the Constitution's] powers."
Ten of these amendments were ratified by the states in 1791 and adopted as law. Thus, the Bill of Rights was born.
Simple, right? Maybe to you and me it is, but not to Washington, D.C.
Let's flash forward to present day, where the 117th Congress presides over a federal government that has systematically undone every single freedom outlined! Oh, they'll deny it, of course, but see for yourself. (The Amendments have been paraphrased for our 21st Century minds: Here is the original text.)
- Amendment I: Congress shall not favor or oppose any one religion, or prevent freedom of speech, the press, to peaceably assemble, or submit to the government a complaint of wrongdoing.
- How it was Undone: Although the first on the list, it was actually the last to be compromised in the form of the COVID-19 virus mandates that were used to shut down religious services--except in mosques, prevent gatherings--but not riots, and censor anyone who dared to challenge the established narrative. Stay safe, but what about the First Amendment?
- Amendment II: Congress cannot prevent citizens from owning weapons.
- How it was Undone: I think we all know the answer to this: gun control. What do they mean when they say, "Shall not be infringed."?
- Amendment III: The government can't house soldiers in citizen's homes without the consent of the owner.
- How it was Undone: the FBI calls it Civil Asset Forfeiture, and defines it as "a powerful tool used by law enforcement agencies against criminals to deprive them of their ill-gotten gains through seizure of those assets." Of course, there's nothing to stop the FBI from seizing just anyone's assets and using them for whatever purpose they choose. Do you like your belongings? The FBI likes them more.
- Amendment IV: The authorities cannot arrest, search, or seize anything without a warrant.
- How it was Undone: The Patriot Act, passed after 9/11, allows the government to spy on you if they suspect you of being a terrorist. Of course, they define what a terrorist is, so you don't get a say. Do you ever get the feeling you're being watched?
- Amendment V: A civilian shall only be convicted of a capital crime by a grand jury, and never tried for the same crime twice, or forced to testify against themselves, nor punished without due process of law.
- How it was Undone: The National Defense Authorization Act allows the government to hand over suspected terrorists to the Military for detention and trial. Once again, the government defines terrorist, while the citizen has no say. You had the right to remain silent.
- Amendment VI: A citizen shall have a speedy and public trial, and the ability to see the witnesses against them, to call witnesses of their own, and to have a lawyer.
- How it was Undone: Indefinite Detention, another means of avoidance created by the NDAA. Red tape has become iron bars
- Amendment VII: Every citizen shall have the right to a trial by jury.
- How it was Undone: Military tribunals. Once again, the NDAA is to blame. Judge, Jury, Executioner, and Government
- Amendment VIII: No cruel and unusual punishments.
- How it was Undone: Enhanced interrogation. The excuse: national security to combat terrorism. It's a trick.
- Amendment IX: The Constitution shall not be used as a weapon against the people.
- How it was Undone: Judicial activism, i.e. judges who purposefully misconstrue the law in such a way as to fuel their own agendas. Justice is becoming more of a courtesy.
- Amendment X: All powers not specifically designated to the federal government in the Constitution are retained by the states or the people.
- How it was Undone: Federal supremacy, also known as the Supremacy Clause, is not only a violation of the Tenth Amendment but the Ninth as well. This clause (Article VI, section II of the Constitution) says that federal law trumps state law, but only within the power given it by the Constitution. Congress has conveniently forgotten that last part, and instead uses this clause as an excuse to do whatever they want. The people have the power!
To coin a phrase, the Founders are rolling in their graves. The federal government has shamelessly undermined the entire Bill of Rights for the people, while retaining those same rights for themselves.
So what do we do? Should we have seen this coming? The Founders did, and they gave us a solution in Article V of the Constitution. A Convention of States allows the people to circumvent Congress to propose amendments, and the best part is that Washington can't do a thing about it!
How about an amendment to prevent corrupt bureaucrats from continuing to use "national security" or "national health" as excuses to establish national tyranny?
