Annotated Bill of Rights
America Founding Fathers Party of Colorado
Adopted on 7/26/03
Amendment I.
"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 rights of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The America Founding Fathers Party declares all "Hate Crime" and "Thought Crime" laws as unconstitutional. Every American citizen has the right of free association and the right to speak on any subject, taking either a pro or con position on any subject.
"In those wretched countries where a man cannot call his tongue his own, he can scarce call anything his own... Who ever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freedom of speech." -- Benjamin Franklin
Amendment II.
"A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."
The America Founding Fathers Party considers any law, whether it is a Federal law or State law, that violates the right of an American Citizen to keep and bear Arms as Unconstitutional. We will rely on the statements of the Founding Fathers as the original intent.
"Americans [have] the right and advantage of being armed -- unlike citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." -- James Madison, The Federalist, No. 46
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed..." -- Thomas Jefferson letter to Justice John Cartwright, June 5, 1824.
"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."...George Mason, during Virginiašs ratification convention, 1788
Amendment III.
"No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law."
Amendment IV.
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
The America Founding Fathers Party adamantly supports the Privacy Rights as stated in the 4th Amendment. Violations of the 4th Amendment are the first steps to a police state. An example of unconstitutional laws includes, but is not limited to, the "No Knock" laws.
"Is the relinquishment of the trial by jury and the liberty of the press necessary for your liberty? Will the abandonment of your most sacred rights tend to the security of your liberty? Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings--give us that precious jewel, and you may take everything else! ...Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel."--Patrick Henry
Amendment V.
"No person shall be held to answer to a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation."
Property rights of American citizens are protected under the Fifth Amendment and therefore all laws, whether Federal or State, and all treaties or U.N. agreements that violate these property rights are unconstitutional.
" The political institutions of America, its various soils and climates, opened a certain resource to the unfortunate and to the enterprising of every country and insured to them the acquisition and free possession of property." --Thomas Jefferson: Declaration on Taking Up Arms, 1775. Papers 1:199
Amendment VI.
"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense."
"The imprisonment of a person under the protection of the laws... on his failure to obey the simple order of the President to depart out of the United States... is contrary to the Constitution, one amendment to which has provided that 'no person shall be deprived of liberty without due process of law,' and... another having provided that 'in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to public trial by an impartial jury, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.'" --Thomas Jefferson: Draft Kentucky Resolutions, 1798. ME 17:383
"The error seems not sufficiently eradicated that the operations of the mind as well as the acts of the body are subject to the coercion of the laws. But our rulers can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them. The rights of conscience we never submitted, we could not submit. We are answerable for them to our God. The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia Q.XVII, 1782. ME 2:221
Amendment VII.
"In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-exampled in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law."
"It astonishes me to find... [that so many] of our countrymen... should be contented to live under a system which leaves to their governors the power of taking from them the trial by jury in civil cases, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of commerce, the habeas corpus laws, and of yoking them with a standing army. This is a degeneracy in the principles of liberty ... which I [would not have expected for at least] four centuries." --Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1788.
Amendment VIII.
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
Amendment IX.
"The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
Other Rights:
The rights of citizens are not limited to those specifically enumerated in the Constitution. The Ninth Amendment protects all other rights that are retained by the people, and that are not specifically named.
"Under the law of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own person, which includes the liberty of moving and using it at his own will. This is what is called personal liberty, and is given him by the Author of nature, because necessary for his own sustenance." --Thomas Jefferson: Legal Argument, 1770. FE 1:376
Amendment X.
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, not prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectfully, or to the people."
All Departments and agencies that are unconstitutional are to be abolished and their responsibilities returned to the respective States. Such unconstitutional Departments include, but are not limited to, the Department of Education.
" It is an axiom in my mind that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and that, too, of the people with a degree of instruction. This is the business of the state to effect, and on a general plan." --Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1786.