[SampleMan]

Why can't the guns/speech/religion decisions be made at the state level also, where the Founding Fathers originally intended they be made?
You're allowing those decisions to be made at the federal level, but not drugs. Why is that?

The Federal government enumerates those rigths, which I believe puts a greater burden on the states in abridging them. Just speaking for myself here.

[Tolsti]

When it comes to illegal drugs, I consider those as the same as anthrax or nuke. They offer absolutely zero interest to the individual or the country.

However, guns offer a solid self defense ability. They can save your life. So. I say, booze and cigs need to stay legal because they are so ingrained, and all the other illegal drugs need to stay illegal since legalizing them will only add to more 'accepted' usage drugs that are more severe life-altering from use.

[robertpaulsen]

"The Federal government enumerates those rigths, which I believe puts a greater burden on the states in abridging them."

The Bill of Rights, when written by the Founding Fathers and ratified by the states, only applied to the newly-formed federal government. In other words, these rights were protected from federal infringement.

The states could, and did, infringe on them. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the U.S. Supreme Court started applying some of the Bill of Rights to the states.

[tpaine]

Sampleman commented that the Federal government enumerates [guns/speech/religion] rights, "which I believe puts a greater burden on the states in abridging them".


The Constitution and its Bill of Rights applied to the newly-formed United States and all of its political subdivisions, - local, state & federal.

In other words, these rights were protected from any infringements at any level. [see Article VI]

However, many states could, and did, ignore and infringe upon them, necessitating the enactment of the 14th Amendment in an attempt to stop such infringements.
-- This too failed, and State/local governments to this day infringe on our rights to guns/speech/religion/intoxicating substances/--- whatever, -- under the guise that 'the majority rules in a Democracy'..


Not true.. -- We have a Republic, if we can keep it.