Beach Reporter Letters Expose Ignorance of Rights

While reading over the “Letter to the Editor” section last
week, I found two responses which contained clearly erroneous interpretations
of our nation’s founding charter: the United States Constitution.

First of all, there is no amendment which declares “There
shall be a separation of church and state.” None at all. The First Amendment
does prohibit the federal and state governments from establishing an officially
recognized religion. The First Amendment never intended to displace reverence
for the Divine in our daily, public lives. A cursory reading over another
fundamental American document, the Declaration of Independence will reveal
well-placed references to “the laws of nature and Nature’s God” then “their
Creator”, and also “The Supreme Judge” ending with “Divine Providence”. The
First Amendment affirms freedom of, not freedom from, religion.

The second letter took aim at the Second Amendment, as
though the phrase “well-regulated” champions gun control. The spirit and
language of the Second Amendment enshrined individual protection from government
tyranny. Let us never forget that “A shot heard round the world” initiated the
Revolution of farmers with pitchforks against a rogue Empire set on reducing
the rights of man. Beyond the Constitutional merits, prevalent statistics and
history affirm that expansion of concealed-carry as well as enforcement – not more
regulations – will diminish gun violence in our communities.

Based on those two flagrant, unsound misunderstandings of
the first two amendments in our Bill of Rights, I understand where so many affronts
to our civil liberties have passed unnoticed under the current Presidential administration.