[Disclaimer: IASNAL, but I am the host of the Bill of Rights Conference on the U'NI echonet, where these issues are discussed from time to time.] JR> >violation of the right to privacy? JR> JR> Good idea, but I have an idea to upset even *more* people. [9th and 10th Amendment stuff] Them, too. JR> Republicans AND Democrats ALL HATE the 9th Amendment, which is the primary The reason there was no BOR in the original Constitution was precisely that some folks were afraid that the enumeration of some rights would imply that there are none other. The DOI and other writings of the FFs clearly show that rights are naturally inherent in individual human beans, and that the power of government comes from us, not the other way around. But the FFs also knew that the prevailing view was that rights are what is left over after the government is done flexing its muscles. Bottom line: The Bill of Rights was passed in the Congress as a 12-article gang-bang amendment, and the 10 of them that became the BOR were passed as an organic whole by the several states. [And, of the other two articles, which clearly didn't belong in a BOR, one of them was ratified a few years ago even.] This means that without =any= of the 10 amendments, there would be =no= BOR. JR> slow erosion of freedom in this country. My rejoinder is "OK, if we're JR> supposed to ignore it, why not just REPEAL it, after all, it's just sitting JR> there doing nothing, cluttering up the rest of the Bill of Rights." Usually, Don't give them any ideas! The 2nd is already on that list, and part of the 1st (that refers to "flag desecration", which apparently is more serious than =Constitution= desecration)... don't get me started, I'm way off crypto already. JR> talking about Constitutional issues on encryption rights, if for no other JR> reason than to educate the public. In court, of course, I would concentrate JR> on the 1st. Apologies to the various lurking law professors on the list, I Actually, I would kick in 2 and 4. The government has called crypto a munition, and it =is= a valuable tool for the unorganized militia to fight a guerilla war against an occupation force. The 4th amendment protections against search and seizure are the moon which creates the penumbra of Roe v. Wade.> U'NInet Bill of Rights Conference Host * Physician, heal thyself! --- * Monster@FAmend.Com *