Constitutional Protections: For All, Not For Some

I am of the opinion that proposed Constitutional Amendments which restrict the rights of the American people are very bad news and should be rejected by those in power out-of-hand.

The original Bill of Rights was designed to limit the government's ability to infringe on the rights of the American people. Among other things, the Bill was to restrict government control over the lives of the people and all of the Amendments since then have followed this general approach with the exception of one.

The 18th Amendment (1919) banned the import, manufacture and distribution of alcohol anywhere in the United States. It proved to be impossible to enforce and the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment fourteen years later.

The 18th remains the only Amendment that has been overturned in spite of recent efforts to overturn parts of the First (freedom of association, parts of free speech clause via the political correctness movement) and Second Amendments.

We must never surrender our Constitutional rights to security considerations. With the war on terror continuing to rage, the possibility of a shattering terrorist attack on our nation continues to exist, and with it the possibility of Constitutional alterations in the name of preventing a terrorist attack that may never happen.

Don't think Constitutional violations will happen? Constitutional protections are already being ignored by the Justice Department. Americans who were rounded up after 9/11 on suspicion of being terrorists have been held for three years without access to attorneys or the court system. There is no need to try these people in secret...bring the proceedings out into the open! If they have done no wrong, let the government beg for their forgiveness and offer compensation, but if they are criminals, then let the criminal system work.

The Sixth Amendment reads: "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 defence."

Well, get on with it!