Never Forget These Rights...!

These are probably some of the most important amendments in our history.

The main thing about these milestones is that they make it clear that the people do not give up all their rights to the government. That is something we need to keep in mind all the time, and we need to make sure that the folks in Washington always remember this as well!

This is one bit of history that should always be foremost in our minds!

Dec 15, 1791:

The Bill of Rights becomes law

On this day in 1791, Virginia becomes the last state to ratify the Bill of Rights, making the first ten amendments to the Constitution law and completing the revolutionary reforms begun by the Declaration of Independence. Before the Massachusetts ratifying convention would accept the Constitution, which they finally did in February 1788, the document's Federalist supporters had to promise to create a Bill of Rights to be amended to the Constitution immediately upon the creation of a new government under the document.

The Anti-Federalist critics of the document, who were afraid that a too-strong federal government would become just another sort of the monarchical regime from which they had recently been freed, believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government by outlining its rights but failing to delineate the rights of the individuals living under it. The promise of a Bill of Rights to do just that helped to assuage the Anti-Federalists' concerns.

The newly elected Congress drafted the Bill of Rights on December 25, 1789. Virginia's ratification on this day in 1791 created the three-fourths majority necessary for the ten amendments to become law. Drafted by James Madison and loosely based on Virginia's Declaration of Rights, the first ten amendments give the following rights to all United States citizens:

1.Freedom of religion, speech and assembly.

2.Right to keep and bear arms for the purpose of a well-regulated militia

3.No forcible quartering of soldiers during peacetime.

4.Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.

5.Right to a grand jury for capital crimes and due process. Protection from double jeopardy, self-incrimination and public confiscation of private property without just compensation.

6.Right to speedy and public trial by jury and a competent defense.

7.Right to trial by jury for monetary cases above $20.

8.Protection against excessive bail or fines and cruel and unusual punishments.

9.Rights not enumerated are retained by the people.

10.Rights not given to the federal government or prohibited the state governments by the Constitution, are reserved to the States... or to the people.

These amendments are law, and they are law for the people! Any person or persons attempting to skirt these amendments is breaking the law! Maybe we should make sure that we remember this and act accordingly! At least, that's my opinion!

Coffee on the patio this morning. It's foggy, but warm enough!