The ninth amendment: It's cool!!

Jun 11
21:00

2004

Darrin F. Coe, MA

Darrin F. Coe, MA

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... Colorado passed a law banning ... in ... fighting ... This is wrong and ... I believe the right to engage in ... violence falls under the ninth a

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Recently,The ninth amendment:  It's cool!! Articles Colorado passed a law banning participation in “toughperson” fighting competitions. This is wrong and unamerican. I believe the right to engage in consensual violence falls under the ninth amendment right to privacy. What makes the United States great is choice. Our government was founded on choice. The right to chose the words I speak; the right to chose the way I worship; the right to assemble peaceable and to question my government; and the right to chose to arm or not to arm myself are all part and parcel of the greatness of America.
The ninth amendment says, “the enumeration, in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” The right to privacy falls under these unenumerated rights. The right to privacy is the right to not have the government dictate personal behavior. Thus, as long as it does not harm other people, deprive others of property, or engaged in by those who can give consent, our government does not have the right to regulate it.
I do not believe the federal government has the constitutional power to regulate who marries who; I do not believe the government has the right to regulate the wearing of seatbelts by adults; I do not believe the government has the right to regulate the wearing of motorcycle helmets; nor do I believe the government has the right to regulate competitive violence.
The constitution affords the federal government the right to regulate commerce between the states; establish revenues and taxes; pay the debts of the country; and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. Any rights not specifically enumerated as belonging to the federal government belongs to the state governments.
I encourage every citizen to know the content of their state and federal constitutions. It is incumbent upon the citizens to know and protect their rights. It seems to me that the federal and state governments will take away rights if we allow them to do so; sometimes in the interests of “welfare” and sometimes in the interests of “money”.
Take the time to care enough about our government and your rights as individuals; to get involved and be informed. The more you give the more they’ll take and those in government have great love for the uninformed.