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Shortly after ratification of our Constitution in 1788, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, or Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. The first two amendments are well known to most of us.
The First Amendment protects five rights: religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly, and petitioning the government. The Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms. It is important to remember that all parts of the Constitution are integral to protecting our liberty and democracy.
I find it interesting that recently our own government is attacking the First Amendment. Our government is now arguing that those who peacefully assemble, question the action of those hiding behind masks, use their phones to record police activity, or try to assist someone who is shoved to the ground are now being referred to as domestic terrorists.
The Second Amendment may already be under attack from the government. A protester was killed with the stated reason he had a permitted gun on his person.
Some are appalled. Some cheer this on. For those cheering this on, be aware that if expressing your rights under the First Amendment is now a crime, then any amendment or any other part of the Constitution is subject to the same interpretation.
Protecting the First Amendment from attacks is important because if that one falls, the Second, Third, and all other amendments will soon fall. It is in the interest of us all to save the Constitution and save our country.
Bob Meyer
Willimantic
