Morgan Griffith on the Bill of Rights

From Congressman Griffith's E-Newsletter:


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Bill of Rights Day
I was recently reminded by a constituent from Southside that on December 15, 1791, the United States adopted the Bill of Rights, which protects the inalienable rights this country holds dear.  To summarize them briefly: the First Amendment protects the freedom of speech and religion, the Second the right to keep and bear arms, and the Third restricts the quartering of soldiers in private homes.  The Fourth Amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, the Fifth guarantees the rights to due process, the Sixth establishes a number of rights of a defendant in a criminal trial, and the Seventh provides for jury trials in civil cases.  The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bails or fines, the Ninth clarifies that the rights listed are neither explicit nor exhaustive, and the Tenth Amendment makes clear that power not given to the federal government is reserved to the states or the people.

These rights, granted by God, have been tested by the storms of history.  Even today, the ship that is our Republic continues to be tossed on stormy seas.

But through it all, whether on calm waters or in stormy seas, the Bill of Rights has served to protect that ship and all citizens during tumultuous times.  We must continue to guard and defend these rights, even if in the short term, doing so may seem inconvenient or troublesome.
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