Column by Dr. Ann Hollingsworth
Often, there is discussion in the news about one of our Bill of Rights as Americans, which are the first 10 amendments to our Constitution. Usually the controversy is concerned with the first or second amendment. The fifth through eighth amendments relate to rights concerning affairs taken to court. Here are the rights that have current relevance to take care of.
The First Amendment provides several rights protections: to express ideas through speech and the press, to assemble or gather with a group to protest or for other reasons, and to ask the government to fix problems. It also protects the right to religious beliefs and practices. It prevents the government from creating or favoring a religion.
The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.
The Third Amendment prevents government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers to use their homes. Let’s hope that the left doesn’t sway this to illegal immigrants using our homes.
The Fourth Amendment bars the government from unreasonable search and seizure of an individual or their private property. Has this been violated in some places in our country?
The Ninth Amendment states that listing specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have other rights that have not been spelled out.
The Tenth Amendment says that the Federal Government only has those powers delegated in the Constitution. If it isn’t listed, it belongs to the states or to the people. Isn’t it time for us to go back to this? Think how much more pleasant life might be if the sensible and God-fearing leaders in Mississippi gave the influence of their power in the affairs of our lives instead of the “gone-crazy” mode coming out of our national level of leadership.
If we are believers, we also have a wonderful bill of rights as Christians – it is called the Bible.
