A lot of people think the same thing with respect to the first amendment. If you ask them what the first amendment is they will probably say: "freedom of speech" or "right to free speech". They think the first amendment gives us the right to free speech. Again, we don't get our rights from the constitution/government. The framers were pretty smart. They knew governments will always try to overreach so the constitution was setup to protect us from the government. What does the first amendment say?:
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 right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Again, it's a protection of our natural right to free speech. It says congress can pass no laws which abridge that natural right. Just like the second amendment is a protection, saying the government must not infringe on our right to bear arms.
Yes. And the more people that realize this and let their representatives know they understand this will make us better off. Instead of thinking we have to beg the government to give us rights.
Exactly. The first and second amendments are not what grant rights to the people. Those rights are inalienable.
The first and second, and other, amendments are restrictions placed on what government can and cannot do.
All power the government has is granted to it by the people, and the "bill of rights" is what places restrictions on what government can do.
A lot of people think the same thing with respect to the first amendment. If you ask them what the first amendment is they will probably say: "freedom of speech" or "right to free speech". They think the first amendment gives us the right to free speech. Again, we don't get our rights from the constitution/government. The framers were pretty smart. They knew governments will always try to overreach so the constitution was setup to protect us from the government. What does the first amendment say?:
Again, it's a protection of our natural right to free speech. It says congress can pass no laws which abridge that natural right. Just like the second amendment is a protection, saying the government must not infringe on our right to bear arms.
Those founding dudes were some of the most on-point humans in history.
Yes. And the more people that realize this and let their representatives know they understand this will make us better off. Instead of thinking we have to beg the government to give us rights.