To date, the United States Constitution has been amended 27 times. The Amendments are not meant to be taken in order of importance, each is considered as important as the others. Each Amendment has been scrutinized for its legality, with restrictions and extensions placed on each one. Therefore, to say that it’s wrong to restrict the infamous 2^nd Amendment, the right to bear arms, is ridiculous. We’ve allowed certain restrictions on almost half of the Amendments specifically, so don’t sit there and tell me that it’s your God-given right to own an AR-15 rifle.

1^st Amendment – Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

Separation of church and state. In theory. However, we’ve seen the Ten Commandments in courthouses, complaints that kids can’t pray in public school, and people refusing to do business with gay people. And those aren’t even the court-allowed infringements.

Freedom of speech. Guess what? You *can’t say whatever you want. Libel and slander are not legal. Certain obscenities are not allowed under free speech. Child pornography, also not legal. You can be held liable, possibly even go to jail for inciting someone to commit suicide.

Freedom of press. While the press is largely unrestricted, there are some circumstances that lead to restrictions. Defamation, obscenities, inciting violence… all not allowed. I assume you’ve all heard the “fake news!” attacks happening with the current administration. Enough said.

Freedom of assembly. You can’t assemble wherever you want, whenever you want. Many states and cities require that you obtain a permit before any gathering. Permits can be denied. Some states have even started legislation allowing violence against protesters, such as releasing a person from liability for hitting a protester with a vehicle if he doesn’t move.

2^nd Amendment – Right to bear arms.

Yes, you have an established right to have a gun. I’m pretty sure our founding fathers never imagined semi-automatic weapons, bump stocks, or high-capacity magazines. To be fair, there are some restrictions on purchasing guns, such as background checks. However, those background checks don’t apply to things like gun shows and person-to-person sales. Oh, and while you have to be 21 to purchase a handgun, you only have to be 18 to buy an AR-15. Go figure.

4^th Amendment – Unreasonable search and seizure.

Once upon a time, police or federal agents had to have warrants to conduct searches of cars, homes, and businesses. Technically, they still do, at least most of the time. But legislation such as the Patriot Act has eroded that protection. There’s also this thing called civil asset forfeiture, which basically means that anything in your possession or vehicle can be confiscated by the police if you’re arrested. And you won’t get it back just because you’re not convicted.

5^th Amendment – Due process and the right to avoid self-incrimination.

American citizens can be designated as enemy combatants and effectively lose their right to due process.  People who have been arrested may not be read their rights.

6^th Amendment – Rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a speedy trial, the right to a lawyer, and the right to know the evidence and accusers against you.

See the previous Amendment, with comments about enemy combatants. Don’t forget all the people who spend a year or more in jail, awaiting trial. Oh, and some states have cut the public defender budgets so much that there aren’t enough lawyers to go around.

8^th Amendment – Freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishments.

Well, at least one South Carolina legislator wants to bring back the firing squad. Any other questions? Years in solitary confinement have somehow also become acceptable.

9^th Amendment – This Amendment specifically includes the right to privacy, a basis of abortion rights.

I think we all know how much those rights have been eroded over the past 10-15 years old. To the point where women in some states can no longer even obtain abortions in their states.

12^th Amendment – The Electoral College.

Superdelegates didn’t exist at first. I’m pretty sure most Americans don’t understand how this works.

14^th Amendment – Citizenship. Equal protection under the law.

People, we still have all kinds of discrimination happening in the country, much of it approved by courts. Women are paid less than men. Restrictions on abortion. Health insurances even had to be mandated by law to cover birth control for women, when some denied coverage, but covered Viagra for men.

15^th Amendment – The right to vote shall not be denied on the basis of race.

Hahaha! Voter ID laws. Do I have to say more?

24^th Amendment – Banished poll taxes.

Except for those states with Voter ID laws. When you have to PAY for the ID.

25^th Amendment – Deals with the President’s ability to well, be President.

I’m not sure what the point of this one is, since Congress seems to choose to ignore it, with he who shall not be named.

Let me make myself clear. I don’t want to take away the right to own a gun. *I* own a gun. Whether you want one for protection, for hunting, or just because it’s fun to shoot a target. But there’s one gun that’s the common thread through most of the mass shootings in the US, the AR-15. Why do you need a semi-automatic weapon? Because the bad guys have it? That’s a lousy reason. The bad guys have lots of things that I don’t feel the need to go out and buy, just so we can be “equal.” I saw a comment today, that the mass shootings in the US “are a heart problem, not a gun problem.” Bullshit. The US is the only country where this happens on a regular basis. Unfortunately, if 20 small children being gunned down in an elementary school didn’t get something to change, I’m not hopeful that 14 teenagers and 3 adults being gunned down will, either.