Yesterday I posted facts that showed the current media bias against firearms is clearly wrong. I showed how the founding fathers very clearly indicated that the United States Constitution is NOT a "living" document, and that when interpreting the Constitution, one should absolutely consider the original intent of those who wrote it.

Today I'd like to continue with some details about that original intent, specifically the source of the rights in the United States Constitution.

James Wilson, one of only 6 men who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, who was also the second most active member of the Constitutional Convention, said that the rights found in government documents did NOT create new rights, but instead the documents were

...to acquire a new security for the possession of the recovery of those rights to which we were previously entitled by the immediate gift or by the unerring law of our all-wise and all-beneficent Creator.

John Adams said the same thing when he said that

Rights are antecedent to all earthly governments; Rights cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; Rights are derived from the great Legislator of the universe.

Thomas Jefferson agreed that government

is to declare and enforce only our natural rights and duties and to take none of them from us.

Alexander Hamilton:

The Supreme Being gave existence to man, together with the means of preserving and beautifying that existence. He invested him [man] with an inviolable right to personal liberty and personal safety

So now we've clearly shown that government is not in the business of granting rights, but instead the Constitution has clearly outlined various boundaries of natural rights that the government should never cross.

Tomorrow we'll continue with more details and facts about the actual right PROTECTED, NOT GRANTED, in the Bill of Rights.

Posted by: Ogre at 01:15 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 312 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Great post Ogre! It truly shows the intent and beliefs of our founding fathers. Thanks for sharing your research with us. PS - I cross posted this to Crosses aCross America - it reinforces a post I did early on the founding fathers and their beliefs.

Posted by: Kathy at June 22, 2005 08:49 PM (xLEQL)

Hide Comments | Add Comment