Today is Bill of Rights Day. On this day in December of 1791, Congress ratified the first 10 amendments to the Constitution to protect our individual rights and liberties as United States citizens—the same rights and liberties under threat today.
While many Americans are familiar with some basic elements of the Bill of Rights, such as the rights to freedom of speech and press and the right to bear arms, the New York Young Republican Club calls for greater investment in broader civic education. For too long, the American people have not broadly defended their right against unreasonable search and seizure (such as through civil asset forfeiture proceedings), the reservation of unstated rights to the states or to people.
For too long, we have been witnessing a gross misuse of governmental power. Our elected officials have an insatiable urge to control every aspect of our daily lives and each day it becomes more clear that they have long forgotten that the states created the federal government, not the other way around.
A civil society in which the people have a say in its governance relies on those participants to understand the environment in which they operate. It is imperative to remember that our government is controlled by We The People.
Let us honor today and vow to always uphold the Bill of Rights and to fight to preserve their integrity. We celebrate our rich history and reflect upon the God-given freedoms we enjoy as American citizens. These freedoms do not exist in many countries around the world and are always at risk of being stripped from us as well.