Our Youth Are Leading the Way!!

Thoughts from the Middle

“We the People”

Our Youth are Leading the Way!

By

Robert James Fischer

While most Americans are familiar with the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States, many have not really considered what these words mean.  I often hear people complain about government.  It might be the state government which fails to fix state highways, pass meaningful gun control legislation, or local units of government tax people too much.  What we seem to have forgotten is the simple fact that we are the government.  “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

The Founding Fathers did not define “people.”  They didn’t need to.  These Founding Fathers, acting on behalf of the “people” of the British colonies, declared independence.  The Declaration of Independence acknowledged that the source of our statement of independence was the “people.”  The people inherited all the rights associated with the King and Parliament, as well as through the application of common law.  The People declared the law and held the authority to modify that law in the future.  This statement is supported by 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.”

While we are the “people,” citizenship is defined in Amendment XIV.  “All persons born or naturalized in the United State(s) 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.”  Citizenship is important to the federal government in that it makes citizens subject to the federal jurisdiction.  What does this mean?  In simple terms, it means that federal laws are binding on citizens.  However, since “We the People” are the government, it is possible to change the law.  Government by the majority has now been clarified from a Constitutional point of view.  As a citizen, you are subject to government jurisdiction.

For example, as persons (people), we have the right to own a gun.  However, the government may set limits on gun ownership subject to definition and regulation.  As another example, you have the right to travel.  However, as a citizen you may not travel by automobile unless you are licensed.

Still, the regulation of citizens is by the government.  Who is the government?  It is us!  While we do not have a pure democracy in the United States, where each person’s vote counts in all decisions, we do have a representative democracy.  (Whether it works as conceived by our Founding Fathers is a subject for a future discussion.)  The point of this piece is that as “We the People,” we have a responsibility to speak out and elect representatives who reflect our values.  When we fail to vote, we are giving up our right to govern.  In Presidential election years, no more than 60% of us vote.  In off election years the percentage drops to less than 40%.  We have no right to complain about government if we fail to make our opinions known.

Currently, a major issue is gun legislation.  Our youth are doing what the Founding Fathers believed was their duty.  They are speaking out about gun legislation and will, as they become of age, vote according to their views.  Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of Americans support some type of legislation to ensure safe gun use.  This might include universal background checks, strict training standards for gun ownership, or banning certain types of weapons or accessories.  If all of these people, young to old, vote according to their views, their goals could be realized.

However, even if voted in as purported supporters of gun control legislation, after they are elected many legislators seem to avoid serious discussions and fail to vote for pro-gun control bills, because the National Rifle Association contributes large sums of money to their campaigns. This once great organization has been a political lobby group for the minority since the mid-1970s.  It is time that this outside monetary influence ends.  We the People need to take control again. Know how your representatives and senators vote on issues like gun control.   VOTE!! And if addition, call/email/write letters to your legislators regarding your stand on this issue and other issues that are important to you!