Our Civil Rights

Our Civil Rights is the 2014 Tennessee NRA Print of the Year. The original is a 48 by 40 inch acrylic on canvas painting of an America flag waving from a strong flag pole anchored in concrete with the Bill of Rights written into the background. The painting is the first painting of three in a series. Each painting represents one of three stages in our country. This flag represents where we were when I was a child. Our Civil Rights as our founding fathers explained, are granted not by government but by God and the United States Constitution ensures these civil rights in the Bill of Rights making them the law of the land. Without any one of the first ten Amendments in the Bill of Rights we are vulnerable to the tyranny of the powerful, leading to enslavement. Therefore, we protect our people and our land by preserving the constitution. The mission of the democratically elected representatives of the republic of the United States is to represent the will of the people, by enforcing the constitution and the laws of the land equally and without biases. Every appointed office holder and official protector in our land are here to protect the constitution from all enemies both foreign and domestic. To do otherwise is at best willful ignorance or at worse a form of treason and both punishable by law.

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 prosecutions, 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 defense.

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.