124 lines
5.0 KiB
Plaintext
124 lines
5.0 KiB
Plaintext
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NEW
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THE^BILL OF RIGHTS
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Nearly everything has changed in the United States since the Bill of
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Rights was written and adopted. We still see the original words when
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we read those first 10 Amendments to the Constitution, yet the meaning
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is vastly different now.
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And no wonder. We've gone from a country of a few million to a few
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hundred million. The nation's desire to band together was replaced by
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revulsion of togetherness. We exchanged a birthright of justice for a
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magic bullet, and replaced the Pioneer Spirit with the Pioneer Stereo.
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We're not the people who founded this country and our Bill of Rights
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should reflect this.
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As we approach the 21st Century, it's time to bring the wording up to
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date showing what we are and who we are.
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AMENDMENT I
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Congress shall make no law establishing religion, but shall act as if
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it did; and shall make no laws abridging the freedom of speech, unless
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such speech can be construed as "commercial speech" or "irresponsible
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speech" or "offensive speech;" or shall abridge the right of the
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people to peaceably assemble where and when permitted; or shall
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abridge the right to petition the government for a redress of
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grievances, under proper procedures.
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It shall be unlawful to cry "Fire!" in a theatre occupied by three or
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more persons, unless such persons shall belong to a class declared
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Protected by one or more divisions of Federal, State or Local
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government, in which case the number of persons shall be one or more.
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AMENDMENT II
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A well-regulated military force shall be maintained under control of
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the President, and no political entity within the United States shall
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maintain a military force beyond Presidential control. The right of
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the people to keep and bear arms shall be determined by the Congress
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and the States and the Cities and the Counties and the Towns (and
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someone named Fred.)
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AMENDMENT III
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No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without
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the consent of the owner, unless such house is believed to have been
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used, or believed may be used, for some purpose contrary to law or
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public policy.
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AMENDMENT IV
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The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
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and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures may not be
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suspended except to protect public welfare. Any place or conveyance
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shall be subject to search by law enforcement forces of any political
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entity, and any such places or conveyances, or any property within
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them, may be confiscated without judicial proceeding if believed to be
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used in a manner contrary to law.
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AMENDMENT V
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Any person may be held to answer for a crime of any kind upon any
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suspicion whatever; and may be put in jeopardy of life or liberty by
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the state courts, by the federal judiciary, and while incarcerated;
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and may be compelled to be a witness against himself by the forced
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submission of his body or any portion thereof, and by testimony in
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proceedings excluding actual trial. Private property forfeited under
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judicial process shall become the exclusive property of the judicial
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authority and shall be immune from seizure by injured parties.
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AMENDMENT VI
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In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to
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avoid prosecution by exhausting the legal process and its
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practitioners. Failure to succeed shall result in speedy
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plea-bargaining resulting in lesser charges. Convicted persons shall
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be entitled to appeal until sentence is completed. It shall be
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unlawful to bar or deter an incompetent person from service on a jury.
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AMENDMENT VII
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In civil suits, where a contesting party is a person whose private
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life may interest the public, the right of trial in the Press shall
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not be abridged.
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AMENDMENT VIII
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Sufficient bail may be required to ensure that dangerous persons
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remain in custody pending trial. There shall be no right of the public
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to be afforded protection from dangerous persons, and such protection
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shall be dependent upon incarceration facilities available.
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AMENDMENT IX
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The enumeration in The Constitution of certain rights shall be
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construed to deny or discourage others which may from time to time be
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extended by the branches of Federal, State or Local government, unless
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such rights shall themselves become enacted by Amendment.
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AMENDMENT X
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The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution
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shall be deemed to be powers residing in persons holding appointment
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therein through the Civil Service, and may be delegated to the States
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and local Governments as determined by the public interest. The
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public interest shall be determined by the Civil Service.
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The Pen is mightier than the Sword.
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The Court is mightier than the Pen.
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The Sword is mightier than the Court.
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- Rey Barry -
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