Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Burning the Constitution: Article 1 Section 9


Article I
Section 9

1: The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.


This no longer applies, obviously.

2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

Funny how a Constitutional law can magically be ignored by a military appropriations bill that gives the President unlimited power to arrest, detain and execute citizens in times of peace.

3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

"Attainder" is the loss of your rights because of a crime you have committed. This has been and is violated in every state and is being proposed to be increased in violations on the state and federal level. Simply put, just because you commit a crime doesn't mean you lose your rights, yet if as a teenager you stole an iPod, which is a felony, you can't own guns, and can't vote for the rest of your life. That's law NOW in most states. There are very few states that allow you to get your rights back after minor crimes, and it's very hard to do. Now they
are trying to be able to take your guns away because you've had traumatic experiences through no fault of your own. Yes, that would be restrictions on gun ownership, and possibly voting for any one with PTSD. In many states you can lose your gun rights just by being placed in the psyc ward of a hospital for an over night stay after a car accident, or some other traumatic event that leaves you shaken up.

"Ex post facto" is a law that affects events, purchases, or actions that occurred before the law was passed. This is where we get the term "grandfathered in" because if you purchased something or did something before the law was passed they can't touch you. For the most part this has been followed, but any confiscations of any kind violates this.

4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

Yeah, income tax and all, totally violates this, though the 16th amendment nullifies this clause.

5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State. 


6: No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

Looks like these two are intact so far.

7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

Fairly cirtain the Presidents current ability to spend as he pleases any money that isdn't directly apportioned violates this.

8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Doesn't stop them from acting like royalty today.