What does this mean to you as an American Citizen?

Question

“….We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security….”

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.

Section 1.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude--

Section 1.

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Answer 1

Well you have to look at what makes the person a criminal. Are the laws just, is the person a good person. I love America, and would defend it with my life, but I know my government is corrupt. and we need reform.

Answer 2

Presently, I only want to address the very last thing you quoted, Section 1 of the 14th Amendment.

What those words mean "to me," are best described in this question I have asked a couple of times before:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

I only want to be sure that Section 1 ends up (in the future) to be interpreted the way it was meant to be interpreted.

Answer 3

The first is the founding document of this country. Although the Declaration of Independence holds no legal weight, it expresses the ideals of this country quite well. The passage you quoted justifies revolutions. The second passage is the Second Amendment, which ensures the right of Americans to keep and bear arms for liberty and self-defense. The third and fourth passages are from the 15th and 14th Amendments, respectively, and define citizenship, voting rights, equal protection and due process. I have a feeling I should be putting all this together, but I'm not quite sure how.

As for what they mean to me, they mean a lot. They're really the essence of our country.

Answer 4

not worth the paper it;s written on.the contitution is a joke.look back on world war two to the american japanese and what happened to them.while the german americans were allowed to be free and roam about as they wish.during the 1960;s we had a civil rights movement in this country.yet the contitution says all men are created equal.we as a nation are hyprocrites.

Answer 5

Not sure what you are trying to get at

You present a portion of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence

The 2nd Amendment,

The 15th Amendement

and section 1 of the 14th Amendment

Are you trying to make a case for individual right

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Edit to address new details

You will note the due process provision

certain crimes result in the loss of civil rights as punishment if caught

these rights can only be stripped after due process has been served

The passages are not there to protect criminals but citizens who operate within the boundaries of the law