Since the attacks on Sept. 11, there has been a great deal of talk about how Americans may have to give up some liberties in order to preserve our safety from terror.
This kind of "posse mentality" has sent me to my copy of the U.S. Constitution to see exactly what liberties are being talked about. The following is the result of my investigation.
The main body of the Constitution makes the vague reference to a right to free and open elections and also guarantees the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. It excludes the enactment of ex post facto laws and bans the use of religious tests as a qualification for office.
What we usually think of as "liberties" are found in the Bill of Rights -- the first 10 constitutional amendments -- which were finally ratified in December of 1891. So what are the liberties as guaranteed by the Constitution? In a briefly capsulated form, they are:
• The right to not have any specified religion imposed on us and to exercise our own religion.
The right to speak freely and openly.
The right to publish information regardless of content and to receive information from others.
The right to assemble peacefully and petition the Government for grievances.
The right to bear arms.
The right to refuse the quartering of troops in our houses.
The right to security from unreasonable search of our houses, persons, papers and effects.
The right to receive just compensation for property taken for public use.
The right to a trial by a jury.
The right to confront accusers in a court of law and seek assistance therein.
The right to not be tried for the same offense twice.
The right to reasonable bail when accused of criminal offenses.
The right to reasonable punishment when convicted of offenses.
I think it would behoove all Americans to look at this list and decide which of these "liberties" they would be willing to give up. Personally, I'm not ready to give up any of them just so I can feel safer from outside terrors.
Rather my request from the government is: Don't try to protect me; protect my way of life.