Posted on 06/26/2003 7:08:23 AM PDT by Thane_Banquo
With all due respect KC, there's nothing specifically in the Texas Constitution about sodomy, but indecency with children and sexual assault are still defined as violent felonies. The Texas Constitution similar language as the 4th Amendment in its Bill of Rights (The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from all unreasonable seizures or searches, and no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without describing them as near as may be, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation) and are guaranteed equal rights (All free men, when they form a social compact, have equal rights, and no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive separate public emoluments, or privileges, but in consideration of public services) and protection (Equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, color, creed, or national origin.) under law.
Had a married couple been found in flagrante delicto by the police when searching the wrong house, nothing would have happened to them. This is a right to equal protection under law and to be secure in their persons and houses.
The Bill of Rights means what it says.
But curiously, it is a list which desribes restraints on government power. It is not intended to (nor does it attempt to) list the rights of every human being.
Had you even the remotest familiarity with the document, you would know this.
Again, I suggest that you educate yourself.
Read the 9th amendment in particular.
Your opinion is worthless.
Uh... yes, of course it is.
As is the opinion of anyone who isn't a slack-jawed parrot of the party line
The authors and ratifiers of the Constitution and it's amendments are only held in contempt by a few of you on this forum.
On the contrary.
And if you look at the laws of that period, 'individual rights' did not include homosexual sodomy. In fact, buggery was punishable by death in many of the colonies/early states. You can say "times have changed", but if "times have changed" that should be reflected by...voting. Again, libertarians are against voting.
What I love most about this is liberals like dead going on about how terrible it is letting the unwashed masses determine what is moral
Typical gutless move. Next time, show some courage and ping me if you want to call me names.
BTW, when the unwashed masses want to take your guns away, dont go crying about your rights.
Embrace the tyranny of "democracy" or add hypocrite to the gutless label youve earned.
You are correct. They're friends of constitutional republicanism.
This wasn't decided on equal protection grounds, chum.
and to be secure in their persons and houses.
News: even before the decision there was no sex police squad bugging people's bedrooms.
What are their extent?
Define them for me.
We don't live in a democracy.
Except, of course, for slack-jawed parrots of the OWK party line
and pitting!
Libertarians may be cheering, but not for the reasons you state. They are cheering the fact that the USSC has struck down a law that, in contravention of our Bill of Rights and respect for individual liberties, had nevertheless existed for too many years.
In a word...no!
In a few more words, yes you can make a case for "liberty" and "natural rights" but I don't think you can extend this interpretation of "liberty" to define specific "Constitutional rights".
Perhaps the original Texas law is/was poorly written, badly enforced, or obsolete, but I still don't think the Supreme Court has any business issuing rulings on any sexual behaviour. In effect, they are re-writing state laws, aren't they? The problem is, they're setting that precedent, and there could (likely will) be all kinds of "unintended consequences" that go way beyond this one decision.
It actually occurs to me that this whole "neighbor with a grudge" story was a set-up, to start at the bottom (LOL!) and eventually get this case all the way to the Supreme Court...Rush is saying similar right now, not about my "conspiracy theory" but about "Supreme Court arbitration"...
How about let's all see YOU do that.
I have a fan club?
Cool.
In the water, Libertarians cause cavitation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.