It’s common sense to know your rights as an American. Yet, how many Americans know the number of rights in the First Amendment? Could you recite your freedoms in the Bill of Rights? Plenty of “man-on-the-street” videos show Americans’ apologetic ignorance, particularly those under 35. Let’s learn or renew our acquaintance with a few fundamental foundational rights as Americans.
Bill of Rights or Bill of Suggestions?
First, our Bill of Rights is part of the U.S. Constitution, specifically the first ten amendments. It is not a separate document.
Next, the Bill of Rights tells the government our individual rights. These rights belong to us. The Bill of Rights is not a bill of suggestions or permissions.
A Common Sense Review of Our Rights in the First Amendment
Let’s look at the First Amendment, which names five of our freedoms:
Freedom of Religion- is not freedom from religion. You can freely attend the house of worship you choose or not attend one at all; Congress cannot create a national denomination.
Freedom of Speech—You can speak, write, or share ideas or opinions without government interference. Freedom of speech does not protect obscenity, child pornography, indecency, defamation, certain forms of incitement, or fighting words.
Freedom of the Press- to report the news without government censorship or reprisals
Freedom to PEACEABLY assemble (i.e., in a group)—This is NOT the right to protest by laying down in the street, stopping traffic on a bridge for an undetermined time, kicking someone’s car, disturbing the peace (i.e., singing protests at 2 a.m., threatening the lives of people with whom you disagree or don’t like, causing property damage, etc. It is the right of Americans to assemble PEACEABLY.
Freedom to petition our government for redress of grievances—You have the right to inform the government of ideas, laws, policies, etc., that you question or would like to be changed. It is not the right to threaten life, limb, or property to get your voice heard. A redress of grievances is not calling up some young intern at your elected official’s office and cussing them out because you are unhappy with the status quo. Instead, vote differently or run against them in the next election.
It is common sense civics and citizenship to memorize these First Amendment rights and know how to interpret them legally, not emotionally. Doing so helps all of us live peacefully and vote intelligently. https://civicsandcitizenship.org/2019-6-14-name-the-first-amendment-rights-go/
About the Second Amendment
If you ask anyone about the Second Amendment, you usually will hear something like, “It’s the right to own a gun.” Immediately, emotional arguments among Americans ensue over gun ownership, gun laws, animal rights, and more. Stop right there. The Second Amendment guarantees your right to own a gun. It is a fact. You do not have to own a gun, but you can own a gun. This article is not about your arguments for or against gun ownership. Consider the following:
A short time ago, a young person in my vicinity decided to visit a friend. This young person allegedly killed his friend, his friend’s mother, the mailman, and about six other people by going on a neighborhood house-to-house murder spree. He used a baseball bat to kill a teenage girl who was enjoying time on spring break with her sister and a friend. This teen shielded her sister and her friend from certain death. The alleged murderer took a vehicle and ran over some of his victims. No guns were involved. A knife, a baseball bat, and a truck were the weapons used to kill eleven innocent people. I’ll leave that right there for your common sense consideration.
The Second Amendment says what it says. My question to you is: Can you name your constitutional rights? We will continue reviewing the Bill of Rights in future articles.
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship 🇺🇸
Join the Conversation! https://www.facebook.com/commonsensecivics
