Reply #216: A proper reading of the constitution?

[beevul]

The constitution is a document that authorizes government - grants it certain limited powers. The document in question, on the other hand, is called The Bill Of Rights - which is generally a laundry list of things the government shall not do. So let go over that document rather than the constitution, a bit, shall we?

Heres the first paragraph of the preamble to the bill of rights, contained IN the bill of rights itself:

THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution


To prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers - "it" being government - further declaratory and restrictive clauses were added. Declaratory and restrictive, and applicable only to government.

With me so far?

Heres one such example of declaratory and restrictive clauses:

Amendment II

"A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State" - declaratory, declares why - "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed" - restrictive - says what government shall not do.

That right there is a proper and non-ideological reading of the pertainant amendment, and document.



http://billofrights.org/