Boom! Boom! Pow!

http://www.classicalvalues.com/authguntheo.jpg

Straight from the Document:

Amendment Two- "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."

Connection:

In this photo on the left it shows a teacher teaching children about the kind of government in Pennsylvania. On the right side of the picture it looks as if the people are worshiping the large gun with the NRA, National Rifle Association, as the leader. This cartoon makes me believe that the group of people this was directed towards are very dependent on guns and use them a lot. This may be a bad thing because people aren't always responsible with the way they use their guns, but it does give people the benefit of the doubt thinking that they will be responsible.

As Long as One Keeps Searching, the Answers Will Come

Police Search Home of Dead Woman's Ex-Husband http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-newtownremainsapr30,0,5303153,print.story

Straight from the Document:

Amendment Four- 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.


Connection:

In Connecticut a man's home was searched for his ex-wife's body, who had gone missing 26 years ago. The woman's body was found under the basement floor of the house that the family had owned during the marriage. Police searched the property within hours of the search warrent being signed by a state judge. The case was brought back to the light after a contractor had found the remains of a human body when working in the barn at the old property. In 1984 , when Elizabeth Heath went missing, John Heath was the person to call in and report her missing.

I think it is important to have a right to keep things private within your own property, but if they are suspected of doing a crime then the police should search all people that can possibly be involved in the situation. If there is no legitamate reason to search a person or their property then there should not be a search nor a warrent for the search. The Heath case would be a good reason to search the ex-husband's former property for the ex-wife's body. If the contractor would have never been in the barn the 26 year old case would have probably never been re-opened.

Behind Closed Jail Cells

Commended Killer Opts for Execution by Firing Squad by M. Morris http://www.newser.com/story/86869/condemned-killer-opts-for-execution-by-firing-squad.html

Straight from the Document:

Amendment 8- "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."

Connection:

Even if you are in jail you should still receive some form of respect right? Well it seems as some people may not agree. Jails across the country are treating prisoners unfairly, giving them cruel and unusual punishment. Gaurds and police think that since they're prisoners, they can get away with beating them and other harmful things without it being a problem. My question is, what ever happened to the eighth amendment? It was made to protect the few rights prisoners actually do have. It's sad that when higher authorities do find out about the situation, most cases don't have any punishment attatched.

Taxes or No Taxes?

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Straight from the Document:

Article Three, Section One- "The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America."

Connection:

I interpret this picture as Obama telling Uncle Sam to came back to society for the taxes. In the photo it shows President Obama asking Uncle Sam, "Ready to rejoin the world?" Uncle Sam appears to be sad and looks like he has been down for a while. This picture may have been made either right after President Obama was elected or during/after the recession.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Lawsuits Challenge New Immigration Law by Johnathan J. Cooper and Paul Davenport http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100429/ap_on_re_us/us_immigration_enforcement;_ylt=An6UUcr0H9O1mAPCp0pVOcxvzwcF;_ylu=X3oDMTJyMHZmOWNqBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNDI5L3VzX2ltbWlncmF0aW9uX2VuZm9yY2VtZW50BGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMgRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNsYXdzdWl0c2NoYWw-

Straight From the Document:
Amendment Fourteen- "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."

Connection:

Peonix, Arizona, many citizens and more importantly, illegal immigrants, were very angry about the new immigration law trying to be passed. Many activists gathered outside of Wrigley Field on Thursday night to protest the Arizona Diomandbacks chanting "boycott Arizona!" A lawsuit from a 15 year police officer in Tucson was filed that same day, not even a week after Gov. Jan Brewer signed the bill. Many say that the bill will lead to racial profiling and is unconstitutional. Few attorneys think the federal government will challenge the law, making it require local and state enforcement if they have reason to believe the people are there illegally. Some people think that there would be no way that police will find all of the immigrants especially in the majority Latino neighborhoods and cities. On that same Thursday, the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders sued trying to prevent authorities from enforcing the law. They had arguments that the federal law pre-empts the state regulation of national borders.

I think making this law would be a big waste of time and effort because even though authority would be working hard to remove the immigrants, there would also be a significant amount of Mexicans still coming into the country. I also think making this law would only be the cause of many protests to come. Even from the legal citizens of the U.S. i think they would find a way to protest since that is their race and they may personally know someone who would get sent back to Mexico.

Addressing the Issue Leading to Holy War

Holy War Back on Buses by Jamie Campbell http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/Miami-Buses--92009094.html

Straight from the Document:

Amendment One "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."

Connection:

Miami buses carried signs on them that wanted followers to leave the "falisity of Islam." The ads were taken down a couple of weeks ago so the wouldn't start a holy war. Because of the freedom of speech amendment, the ads will be put back on the buses starting May 3, 2010, including adding twenty ads to 10 routes. Some think the ads were a violation of freedom of speech, saying that the ads were attacking Islams.

I think the ads are not a violation of freedom of speech amendment, but there is a fine line between freedom of speech for a worthy cause and attacking a group of people.The ads were not attacking the Islams but, addressing some of the issues.

Order in the Court!

Republicans give Obama judicial nominee cool reception by Bill Mears April 17,2010 http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/16/liu.hearings/index.html

Straight from the Document:

Article Three-Section One: "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office."

Connection:

On Friday April 16, 2010 the Senate Republicans offered a cool reception to a judicial nominee. Both parties reviewed the qualifications of Goodwin Liu. The college professor would be the only Asian-American on the appeals court. On the questionnaire given to the nominee on his background he had omitted 117 items. The Republicans and other conservatives now question his qualifications, thinking maybe he is purposely holding out on information on his background. Democrats are defending Liu saying that they were "unfairly characterizing his words and qualifications."

Candy, Sweets, and Treaties!

Obama Signs Nuclear Treaty by Donald Montanaro April 8th, 2010 http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/04/08/2261167.aspx

Straight from the Document:

Article Two, Section Two: "He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur."

Connection:

Put together, the U.S. and Russia have about 90% of the world's nuclear weapons. It would be smart for the two countries to work together to come up with ways to create peace right? Well, President Obama thought so too. On April 8th, 2010 there was a treaty signed with a goal of obtaining peace. Each of the countries are allowed to have limited amount of various missile launchers and warheads. The limitations cut nearly a third of their nuclear weapons. Both countries believe that the treaty will make the relationship between the U.S. and Russia a lot stronger.

Bills, Bills, Bills

Jobless Benefits Bill Sent to Obama by AP/Colleen Long http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1982487,00.html

Straight from the Document:

Article One-Section Seven: "All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it."

Connection:

A bill from Congress is being sent to President Barack Obama trying to receive more benefits for unemployed citizens. The bill is meant to assist hundreds of thousands of the unemployed giving the compensation to those who lost their benefits after a program ended two weeks ago. The Jobless Benefit bill was sent to President Obama when the 59 to 38 vote from the Senate and a 289 to 112 vote from the House. However, the bill would only last through June 2, 2010. Congress is now working on a bill that will last through the end of the year.

I think this would be a great bill to be passed because the unemployment rate is so high. There are so many people who are dependent of their compensation.

This article relates to Article I, Section 7 where it states that a bill has to come from the House of Representatives, then sent to the Senate to be passed. Next the bill is sent to the President of the United States where it is either signed or not. If the bill is not signed, the House of Representatives have to reconsider it and make whatever necessary changes.