Remember the Bill of Rights!

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." ~ Ronald Reagan

I know it can get overlooked "in these times" while our freedoms are being eroded, and under constant attack from a particular political ideology, but it's actually Bill of Rights Day! And boy, do we need the reminder that freedom and liberty are the exception, not the rule. Here's an educational one from TheConstitutionStudy, that after the 7min intro starts to dig into what the Bill of Rights means for us right now in these times (here's a small sampling at about 12:20)...

"What use is the Bill of Rights if those who have sworn to uphold the Constitution ignore it when it's inconvenient? It's not the governments who have subjugated the people, We The People have done it to ourselves. We have elected government officials who are abusing our rights... Yet, it seems that the American people aren't interested in protecting their rights...they seem more interested in party politics, accepting government bribery, and in social media, than in their right to live free...

To all the American people who failed to make good use of the blessings of liberty our founding fathers purchased at so high a price, I ask if you're happy now? We have left those who paid so much for our freedom, to repent of all the blood, sweat and tears they paid, so you and I could be free.

Yes, December 15th is a day we should remember the Bill of Rights and the freedoms it was designed to protect. In the 21st century however, it should also be a day of weeping for the empty shell it has become. The fault for its demise lies not with those in government who ignore the Constitution, nor with the courts who so frequently abuse it. Rather, the fault lies squarely with the American people, who thought that freedom and liberty would always be there, so they failed to defend it when it was under attack."

Check out the rest below!

On December 15th, 1791, the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified and became part of the U.S. Constituiton. However, there is more to the story than just the names and dates.

Why is our Bill of Rights included as amendments to the Constituiton rather than part of the original document? How was it created? Why was it created? And what is the state of the Bill of Rights today, in the 21st century? Let's celebrate the 229th anniversary of these amendments by finding the answers to those questions.

"...if we don't stand up for our rights, if we don't use peaceful noncompliance to ignore the bad actions of governments, then we are no longer a free people. If we act like we work for government, rather than the other way around, we are subjects, not citizens. You may say, we still have elections. Yeah, that merely means we get to pick our despots. ... Let December 15th, 2020 be a day that is remembered and recognized, let it be an opportunity for us to recommit to the protection of our rights."

And here's where we start: by reading and reflecting on our rights, not those of any centralized top-down government entity or official, but OUR Rights...

The 1st 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; of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The 1st Amendment is arguably the most famous in the Bill of Rights. This amendment protects free speech and the free press, the right to gather in protest, the right to practice your preferred religion, and the right to ask the government for help with problems. The 1st Amendment also prevents the U.S. government from creating a religion or requiring everyone to follow a particular religion.

The 2nd 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.

This Amendment protects the rights of individuals to keep and bear arms.

The 3rd 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.

This Amendment prevents the U.S. government from requiring individuals to allow soldiers to stay in their homes.

The 4th 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.

This Amendment prevents the U.S. government from illegally searching or taking an individual's private property or person.

The 5th 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 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.

The 5th Amendment outlines a number of rights for those accused of crimes: it requires a grand jury to indict people for serious criminal charges, prevents the government from bringing charges against an individual for the same crime twice, protects people from self-incrimination, requires the due process of law for criminal charges, and requires a person to receive compensation for any private property taken for public use.

The 6th 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 defense.

The 6th Amendment also outlines additional rights for those accused of crimes, including the right to be tried in public, the right to be tried within in a reasonable amount of time in the jurisdiction the crime took place, the right to be tried by an impartial jury, the right to face the accuser and the right to have an attorney assist with the defense.

The 7th 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 re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

This Amendment allows the right to a jury trial for federal civil cases.

The 8th Amendment
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

This Amendment also prevents the U.S. government from imposing excessively high bail or fines. It also prevents the use of "cruel and unusual" punishment for crimes.

The 9th Amendment
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

The 9th Amendment explains that people may have other rights that aren't explicitly outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

The 10th 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.

The 10th Amendment restricts the powers of the federal government to those explicitly outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Any other powers are said to belong to the individual U.S. States or to the people themselves.

Source: Texas State Law Library

Related link: The Democrats’ war on the Bill of Rights, Part 1