Trump, Congress Steal Constitutional Rights from DC Citizens
Sep 21, 2017 07:17:22 #
Congress, Trump and Governor Eviscerate the Bill of Rights
By Bob Barr
Politicians on ALL sides treat our founding document like it's toilet paper...
On a daily basis, government officials at all levels make decisions and take steps that are, to put it mildly, without basis in our Constitution, or are in direct contravention of that magnificent document. As bad as these actions are, most citizens do not consider them fundamental or flagrant abuses of the Constitution (though they should). Most Americans still believe that the government operates in their best interests and according to the terms of the Constitution.
The government likes it that way. But, as we have seen just recently, it is merely a lack of opportunity, not desire, holding government back. Unfortunately, such opportunities are always one “emergency” away.
In advance of Hurricane Irma, U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth Mapp issued an order that the territory’s National Guard is “authorized and directed to seize arms, ammunitions, explosives, incendiary material and any other property that may be required by the military forces” (emphasis added). Presumably, the edict was predicated on the need to maintain order and safety of USVI citizens within lawful bounds. But that is not what it said.
The shocking order was reminiscent of one issued in 2005 by New Orleans officials in the days following Hurricane Katrina, confiscating private firearms from citizens (in many instances, forcibly) who remained in their homes to protect themselves and their property from looters. “No one will be able to be armed,” New Orleans Police Chief Edwin Compass told the Washington Post at the time. “Guns will be taken. Only law enforcement will be allowed to have guns.”
But unlike New Orleans’ unconstitutional order, Mapp’s goes even further, calling for the seizure not just of firearms but of “any other property.” What does that mean? Conceivably anything the National Guard wants – food, money, cars, houses. The sheer scope of the order is breathtaking, as are its constitutional implications; violating not just the Second, Fourth and Fifth Amendments, but the Third as well – one thought perhaps least likely ever to be relevant under a modern government. It very well could be one of the most constitutionally egregious government orders issued since British rule. But, hey, it is an emergency, right?
Once the order became public, the governor tried to backtrack on his brazen edict, claiming weakly that — despite the clear and unambiguous wording of the document — it was meant only to enable the National Guard to purchase items it needed, not “seize” them from private citizens. But words do matter, and once a door is opened, the government sooner or later is always going to go through it. Precedent has been set.
This is precisely why legislation quietly passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Trump just weeks ago, is cause for similar concern. House Joint Resolution 76, a bill creating a tri-state Washington Metrorail Safety Commission for the D.C.-area did not raise any eyebrows at the time it was presented to Congress. However, buried within the text of the bill is a provision that grants virtually unlimited power to Metro authorities to enter and inspect any private property “near” the area’s Rail System at any time, without warrant or consent. Given both the size of the D.C. Metro system, and government’s penchant for skirting the Fourth Amendment (here, here, here, here, here), the implications are clear — if you live or have a business near a Metro stop, you have no Fourth Amendment protection against police coming into your home or business whenever they feel the need.
This blatant assault on the Bill of Rights garnered a mere five — count ’em, five — votes against it in the House and none in the “senior” Chamber across the Rotunda. In other words, of the 635 officials in our nation’s Capital in a position to have stopped this outrage (435 House members, 100 senators, and one president), only five cared enough to do so.
If an observer were cynical, he would conclude with a high degree of likelihood that the vast majority of those who voted “aye” did so because they did not even take the time to learn the provision was in the legislation. What is even more frightening, however, is the possibility that many of these elected officials consciously voted to strip thousands of citizens of metro D.C. of their right to be free from unreasonable government searches, simply because they were convinced by the measure’s proponents that the power was essential to guard against possible terrorist attacks.
We truly have reached the point at which fear — whether from a natural or man-made source — now officially trumps the Bill of Rights; even if that fear is only hypothetical or illusory.
By Bob Barr
Politicians on ALL sides treat our founding document like it's toilet paper...
On a daily basis, government officials at all levels make decisions and take steps that are, to put it mildly, without basis in our Constitution, or are in direct contravention of that magnificent document. As bad as these actions are, most citizens do not consider them fundamental or flagrant abuses of the Constitution (though they should). Most Americans still believe that the government operates in their best interests and according to the terms of the Constitution.
The government likes it that way. But, as we have seen just recently, it is merely a lack of opportunity, not desire, holding government back. Unfortunately, such opportunities are always one “emergency” away.
In advance of Hurricane Irma, U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth Mapp issued an order that the territory’s National Guard is “authorized and directed to seize arms, ammunitions, explosives, incendiary material and any other property that may be required by the military forces” (emphasis added). Presumably, the edict was predicated on the need to maintain order and safety of USVI citizens within lawful bounds. But that is not what it said.
The shocking order was reminiscent of one issued in 2005 by New Orleans officials in the days following Hurricane Katrina, confiscating private firearms from citizens (in many instances, forcibly) who remained in their homes to protect themselves and their property from looters. “No one will be able to be armed,” New Orleans Police Chief Edwin Compass told the Washington Post at the time. “Guns will be taken. Only law enforcement will be allowed to have guns.”
But unlike New Orleans’ unconstitutional order, Mapp’s goes even further, calling for the seizure not just of firearms but of “any other property.” What does that mean? Conceivably anything the National Guard wants – food, money, cars, houses. The sheer scope of the order is breathtaking, as are its constitutional implications; violating not just the Second, Fourth and Fifth Amendments, but the Third as well – one thought perhaps least likely ever to be relevant under a modern government. It very well could be one of the most constitutionally egregious government orders issued since British rule. But, hey, it is an emergency, right?
Once the order became public, the governor tried to backtrack on his brazen edict, claiming weakly that — despite the clear and unambiguous wording of the document — it was meant only to enable the National Guard to purchase items it needed, not “seize” them from private citizens. But words do matter, and once a door is opened, the government sooner or later is always going to go through it. Precedent has been set.
This is precisely why legislation quietly passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Trump just weeks ago, is cause for similar concern. House Joint Resolution 76, a bill creating a tri-state Washington Metrorail Safety Commission for the D.C.-area did not raise any eyebrows at the time it was presented to Congress. However, buried within the text of the bill is a provision that grants virtually unlimited power to Metro authorities to enter and inspect any private property “near” the area’s Rail System at any time, without warrant or consent. Given both the size of the D.C. Metro system, and government’s penchant for skirting the Fourth Amendment (here, here, here, here, here), the implications are clear — if you live or have a business near a Metro stop, you have no Fourth Amendment protection against police coming into your home or business whenever they feel the need.
This blatant assault on the Bill of Rights garnered a mere five — count ’em, five — votes against it in the House and none in the “senior” Chamber across the Rotunda. In other words, of the 635 officials in our nation’s Capital in a position to have stopped this outrage (435 House members, 100 senators, and one president), only five cared enough to do so.
If an observer were cynical, he would conclude with a high degree of likelihood that the vast majority of those who voted “aye” did so because they did not even take the time to learn the provision was in the legislation. What is even more frightening, however, is the possibility that many of these elected officials consciously voted to strip thousands of citizens of metro D.C. of their right to be free from unreasonable government searches, simply because they were convinced by the measure’s proponents that the power was essential to guard against possible terrorist attacks.
We truly have reached the point at which fear — whether from a natural or man-made source — now officially trumps the Bill of Rights; even if that fear is only hypothetical or illusory.
Sep 21, 2017 10:32:21 #
thank you for the info.
Chameleon12 wrote:
Congress, Trump and Governor Eviscerate the Bill o... (show quote)
Sep 21, 2017 11:35:42 #
Sep 21, 2017 11:52:44 #
Kill one person and it is murder. Kill millions and you are a conqueror.
sum wrote:
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
Sep 21, 2017 12:00:29 #
A personal note to the Founding Fathers: We're sorry. We blew it. You made it possible for us to live free and we blew it. We've given up nearly every personal liberty in the name of a false sense of security sold to the masses by the same type of maniacal government about which you warned us and against which you fought so bravely. We never deserved you.
Sep 21, 2017 13:58:49 #
Sep 21, 2017 14:11:36 #
Painful as it may be to hear it, there's nothing special about the people of this country that sets them apart from the other people of the world. It is the Bill of Rights, and only the Bill of Rights, that keeps us from becoming the world's biggest banana republic. The moment we forget that, the American Dream is over.
Sep 21, 2017 16:44:57 #
What does this say about 'President Trump?' Comments and Details Please!! Rhoda Gelman
Sep 21, 2017 21:03:16 #
Democracy has proved only that the best way to gain power over people is to assure the people that they are ruling themselves. Once they believe that, they make wonderfully submissive slaves.
Sep 21, 2017 21:10:50 #
Trump is the best option.
rhodag4 wrote:
What does this say about 'President Trump?' Comments and Details Please!! Rhoda Gelman
Sep 21, 2017 21:13:24 #
Sum, thank you for your thoughts. I have a Constitutional Republic. US corporate governance is bogus and I am filling a claim in federal district court of the United States in DC.
sum wrote:
Democracy has proved only that the best way to gain power over people is to assure the people that they are ruling themselves. Once they believe that, they make wonderfully submissive slaves.
Sep 21, 2017 21:23:50 #
Has Trump arrested the bankers, paid off the debt, reduced the regulations, decreased taxes, kicked out the illegal aliens, ended the Fed, ended the wars, ended welfare, ended Obamacare, and restored the Bill of Rights?
Sep 21, 2017 22:14:04 #
The Donald loves Bankers. They financed his whole career. The Donald Loves the BAR. He has never settled a case. Fight everyone in court with expensive attorneys. He imports his wives. To the best of my knowledge he has done a bunch. Did you see the list of accomplishments here on OPP?
Let's look at what you have done. Did you file a claim in federal court, did you pay your IRS taxes, do you have a drivers license? I like what you say for the most part But unless you can answer yes, you need to get your ass in gear.
Let's look at what you have done. Did you file a claim in federal court, did you pay your IRS taxes, do you have a drivers license? I like what you say for the most part But unless you can answer yes, you need to get your ass in gear.
sum wrote:
Has Trump arrested the bankers, paid off the debt, reduced the regulations, decreased taxes, kicked out the illegal aliens, ended the Fed, ended the wars, ended welfare, ended Obamacare, and restored the Bill of Rights?
Sep 21, 2017 22:16:53 #
Sep 22, 2017 10:44:15 #
Chameleon12 wrote:
Congress, Trump and Governor Eviscerate the Bill o... (show quote)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Well Well Well, I"m glad to see some are starting to wake up and pay attention...
Activating Militias in Community groups etc will help thwart this type of action too.
In the meantime the Article V ConCon is picking up speed and just might catch D.C. Off guard in 2018 idk, but regardless of what happens Occupy Washington approaches and one should prepare accordingly.
People just go about their daily business like Do Do Birds but things are about to change at any moment.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.