The 1st Amendment is by many considered to be the most important part of the Constitution, freedom of religion, of speech, of the press, and the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances, all of these things help to pave the way for protecting our other rights. But even this, the most important part of the whole thing, has been dismantled bit by bit in ways nearly unnoticeable to most. But these things add up, and with things like the CyberSecurity Act of 2009, and newspaper bailouts on the horizon, we need to do more than stop the coming infringements, we need to reverse the old ones.

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; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Our founders could have done us all a big favor by cutting this off after “Congress Shall make no law.” Just put a period at the end and we would all be a lot better off if you ask me.

“respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”

Well, 50 some odd years so ago, LBJ “offered” churches 501c3 tax exempt status. Which might sound great except that churches weren’t taxable prior to that arrangement. Why do such a thing? A Couple of reasons, now the government gets to decide if you are in fact a church and need to pay taxes or not. Secondly, 501c3 exempt organizations cannot speak out on certain political topics and keep their tax exempt status. So if your pastor, preacher, priest, rabbi or whatever, speaks out for example against a candidate who is in favor of abortion or war, know that this man is risking his livelihood to bring you his views, as it is now illegal for him to do so.

“or abridging the freedom of speech”

Well, let’s see how much speech is still protected. If I were to quote the founding fathers, would I be guilty of a crime in America? Under US Code 2385 “Advocating Overthrow of Government” I would be, it reads in part, as follows.

“Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government'" It goes on to describe membership of any group (right of the people to peaceably assemble?) who advocates such overthrow, and holds prison sentences of up to 20 years. You really have to love the “teaches the duty” part because this is an obvious attack on teaching the Declaration of Independence, I quote…

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

Well, when the government decided decades ago that the 10th Amendment didn’t actually limit their powers, and started passing law after law after law restricting the people and violating their rights, is that now a long train of abuses and usurpations?

Is our government pursuing invariably the same object, when every day they work towards raising our taxes and taking away our liberty?

Does the Obama Administration evince a design to reduce us under absolute despotism, when instead of having regulations reviewed by Congress and people who have been confirmed by congress, he enlists 30 something “Czars” to go into private industry and hand out orders on how to act?

If so, is it our right? Is it our duty, to throw off our government and find new guards for our future security? I guess for me to say yes would be punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

They stuck this in Chapter 115 “TREASON, SEDITION, AND SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES” Which is another direct violation of the Constitution. Article 3 Section 3 outlines Treason.

Section 3 - Treason

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

So there needs to be some overt act, and at least two witnesses to it. Under the Constitution, I can preach the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government all day long, god knows Thomas Jefferson did it all the time.

He said quote,

"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed” He goes on to say “And what country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.” And continues to say “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure."

I could spend all day with such quotes, and with other violations, but lets move forward.

“or of the press” If we consider radio and television media to be within the modern meaning of “the press”, who decides who gets a radio or television station? The FCC! Federal Communications Commission. They get to decide who is and is not "the press", they get to decide what is “obscene”, they can hijack any radio transmission in America with the touch of a button, is that a free media? I don't believe it is. I can understand the need for licensing of radio frequencies, and we don't want just anybody stringing wires across the trees carelessly. But when the FCC can hijack any transmission, or yank any permit, at any time, the FCC controls the media, and that is not a free press.

“or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Has anyone ever been to a protest where the police DIDN’T show up? Ever been to a place like NYC that requires permits for protests? I was recently told, at a protest in NYC that my American flag was illegal because it was attached to a pole that could be used as a weapon. My reply, come and get it.

As Americans, we need to start paying more attention to these seemingly small infringements on our rights. We cannot allow government, at any level, to infringe up on the rights protected by the Constitution, or the rights not protected. We must fight tyrrany where we find it, not when it comes to our doors. And we must not only stop further infringements, but reverse the infringements of the past.