Oath Takers

by L. Douglas Hogan

  The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

  Section. 3.

  Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

  The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

  Article. IV.

  Section. 1.

  Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

  Section. 2.

  The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

  A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

  No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.

  Section. 3.

  New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

  The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

  Section. 4.

  The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.

  Article. V.

  The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

  Article. VI.

  All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

  This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

  The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

  Article. VII.

  The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

  The Word, “the,” being interlined between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page, The Word “Thirty” being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page, The Words “is tried” being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word “the” being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.

  THE BILL OF RIGHTS

  The U.S. Bill of Rights

  The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

  Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

  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 ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

  RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

  ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

  Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the “Bill of Rights.”

  Amendment I

  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.

  Amendment II

  A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

  Amendment III

  No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

  Amendment IV

  The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

  Amendment V

  No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

  Amendment VI

  In all criminal p
rosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

  Amendment VII

  In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

  Amendment VIII

  Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

  Amendment IX

  The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

  Amendment X

  The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

  JUSTICE SHOULD BE BLIND AND LADY LIBERTY’S EYES ARE DIM

  “The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.”

  —Jeff Cooper, Art of the Rifle

  It becomes painfully sorrowful for me to admit that we are seeing many of the same “usurpations” in our day that the American patriots saw in their day. The events, names, and dates have changed, but tyranny, in its essence, cannot be disputed by any person with clear sight. With the United Nations putting pressure on an easily impressionable leftist agenda to abolish the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, it becomes clear that we are nearing the possibility of a second American revolution. The Bill of Right’s Second Amendment is the one remaining guarantee to a free world. The freedom is world renowned and has done its part to secure our borders since 1776. The late Japanese emperor was quoted as saying that he would never invade the United States because there would be an armed American behind every blade of grass. The terrorist caliphate known as “ISIS,” in all their ignorance and delusions of grandeur, have stated that they will not rest until they have raised their flag over the White House. What they fail to understand is that the American spirit is unbreakable. It is our freedom that Americans fight and die for. They do the same in the name of their religion, but there is a difference. Freedom is given by God and it cannot be converted. It cannot be converted to a democracy, or to a socialist state, or to communism. That is the natural order and sequence that would evolve if it were not for fighters and defenders of freedom. This country was formed as a republic. It has begun its evolution onto the slippery slope of democracy, and now we are seeing its foothold in socialism as the government pushes its citizens into dependency upon the very system that fools it into thinking it’s providing security. This security under the guise of protecting its people by withholding a little freedom. Let us not forget the quote of Benjamin Franklin: “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” This quote is a stark reminder that giving up liberty in the name of safety is the catalyst to losing all liberty, eventually. It comes in the name of “safety.” Gun control comes in the name of “safety.” While blind Americans seek to abolish their own right in order to bring a little temporary safety, sinister ideals are waiting in the background to strike while the iron is hot. “In the name of safety,” they will cry.

  Then when the 2nd Amendment is gone, so are your liberties, all of them. None of this happens suddenly, but slowly and methodically the pieces are put together. It’s like a giant puzzle without a box cover. You see the pieces coming together, but you can’t make out exactly what it is you’re looking at. So is the slow and methodical disintegration of a nation of free people. And so, what can be done? That is the big question that we ask ourselves. At least those who can see well enough to discern what is happening. There must needs come a moment in time when we the people say enough is enough. But what will be the catalyst? What will be the proverbial “straw” that breaks the camel’s back? What of the proverbial “things must come to a head”? What is the answer, and who will lead the charge?

  It is my opinion that, excluding the involvement of an outside entity, the striking of the 2nd Amendment will be that catalyst. I continually see the regulating of firearms and ammunition. These regulations appear to be spearheaded by large liberal city politicians; nevertheless, the fight for these freedoms is an ever-present engagement as the NRA continually engages the leftist agenda in our courts. Sometimes the people win, and sometimes there’s another erosion. To me, the Constitution is clear. It specifically reads that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. In other words, shall have no boundaries. It seems pretty clear to me that the Constitution preserves this right for the individual American and that the right is intended to be without limitation or regulations. The systematic shredding of this right slowly ebbs away the right to possess at all. But suddenly a court case is won that “allows” us to carry concealed as long as we meet the regulations that are set. This victory makes us feel happy and content, but the truth of the matter is, we have lost. If the right to bear arms is regulated at all, then it has been infringed. If it has been infringed, then why all the celebration? The loss of freedoms give rise to celebration when a regulated right has been given back to the people.

  It can be compared to taxation. When you have earned a series of paychecks throughout the year and it has been taxed into oblivion, you feel happy at the end of the tax season because you have received a tax “credit.” The government took most of it, then gave back a small portion of it, giving you the sensation of a victory when all the while, they still have a third of your payday. And so, when the government says you cannot carry concealed, and later it is determined that, yes, you can, but it must be regulated, you are elated to have won the right to carry concealed, and you don’t consider the fact that your right has been infringed. This slow transition from undisputed and unequivocal right to keep and bear arms to loss of liberty is done ever so slowly and methodically that the common citizen is lulled into it without recognizing the telltale signs of it while it is occurring.

  So if the catalyst for change is the loss of the one and only liberty that secures the entire Bill of Rights, and it happens in such a small scope that it’s barely recognizable as happening, how can it be considered a catalyst for change? If the people are waiting for the government to go door knocking, confiscating guns, they are mistaken. If that were to happen, that would certainly be a catalyst. But the dissolution of the first freedom will most likely come by another means. The leftist agenda will square with any opportunity to make it happen, unless it impedes or interferes with their individual agenda. For example, the United Nations has been pushing gun control treaties on the U.S. for some time.

  I recently read a report that Secretary of State John Kerry signed a small arms ban that is supposed to control the amount of firearms that terrorists get their hands on. The more sinister plan, in my opinion, is to control weapons worldwide, thus barring the Bill of Right’s 2nd Amendment. If the left and other gun-control activists in government can use such an instrument to bring about an end to their means without it interfering in their future in politics, they would. The barrier, thus far, is the equalization of power between the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches of government. Prior to the 2014 mid-term elections, the House of Representatives was controlled by Republicans, the Senate was controlled by Democrats, and the Judicial are appointments. The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) was pushed through with a destab
ilization of power, by the Democrats controlling both the House and Senate. Could such a destabilization of power occur again where gun control could be pushed through without enough elected opposition to stop it?

  To change the Constitution is no simple task. It was designed in such a way that it has to be passed by the Executive, House of Representatives, Senate and approved by two-thirds of the States. What bizarre circumstances would have to be in place to bring about such a thing? I’m not sure and not much given to conspiracy theories, but I do know that I want to be prepared for the time my country will need me. One thing I can’t deny, and that is the fact that regulations could very well do the job. If they’ve come this far and have not been seriously challenged for regulating us to death, how far will it go? And what of foreign policies? Are we beyond the possibility of being attacked on a more devastating level than that of 9/11? Is the genre of post-apocalyptic books and stories beyond the realm of possibilities? What about the “prepper” TV shows and survival guides?

  I am inclined to believe that Americans can sense something is amiss and things aren’t quite sitting well with them. The economy is in the worst shape it has ever been in and an economic collapse is eminent; the Middle East conflicts are escalating; little is being done to destroy threats to our national security; disasters of biblical proportions are taking place; deadly viruses are being weaponized; the U.S. Constitution is being trampled by elected officials; various offices of the government are lawless; nonmilitary government departments, such as the Bureau of Land Management, are being armed and put against American citizens; the First Amendment is being barred by our government in certain locations; and to top it off, oath takers are becoming lawless. These are just some of the issues plaguing our country. It’s time to organize and it’s time to be ready. If you are an oath taker, you have a job in securing your country and barring it from anarchy and tyranny, the two extremes we must fight between in order to find balance and liberty.