The New Bill of Rights

 The 1st 10 Amendments updated for our time.

What the Bill of Rights has come to mean in

a nation where the Pioneer Spirit was

replaced by the Pioneer Stereo.  By Rey

Barry, the Freeware Hall of Fame.

                            NEW

                          THE^BILL OF RIGHTS

Nearly everything has changed in the United States since the Bill of

Rights was written and adopted.  We still see the original words when

we read those first 10 Amendments to the Constitution, yet the meaning

is vastly different now.

And no wonder.  We've gone from a country of a few million to a few

hundred million.  The nation's desire to band together was replaced by

revulsion of togetherness.  We exchanged a birthright of justice for a

magic bullet, and replaced the Pioneer Spirit with the Pioneer Stereo.

We're not the people who founded this country and our Bill of Rights

should reflect this.

As we approach the 21st Century, it's time to bring the wording up to

date showing what we are and who we are.

AMENDMENT I

Congress shall make no law establishing religion, but shall act as if

it did; and shall make no laws abridging the freedom of speech, unless

such speech can be construed as "commercial speech" or "irresponsible

speech" or "offensive speech;" or shall abridge the right of the

people to peaceably assemble where and when permitted; or shall

abridge the right to petition the government for a redress of

grievances, under proper procedures.

It shall be unlawful to cry "Fire!" in a theatre occupied by three or

more persons, unless such persons shall belong to a class declared

Protected by one or more divisions of Federal, State or Local

government, in which case the number of persons shall be one or more.

AMENDMENT II

A well-regulated military force shall be maintained under control of

the President, and no political entity within the United States shall

maintain a military force beyond Presidential control.  The right of

the people to keep and bear arms shall be determined by the Congress

and the States and the Cities and the Counties and the Towns (and

someone named Fred.)

AMENDMENT III

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without

the consent of the owner, unless such house is believed to have been

used, or believed may be used, for some purpose contrary to law or

public policy.

AMENDMENT IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,

and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures may not be

suspended except to protect public welfare.  Any place or conveyance

shall be subject to search by law enforcement forces of any political

entity, and any such places or conveyances, or any property within

them, may be confiscated without judicial proceeding if believed to be

used in a manner contrary to law.

AMENDMENT V

Any person may be held to answer for a crime of any kind upon any

suspicion whatever; and may be put in jeopardy of life or liberty by

the state courts, by the federal judiciary, and while incarcerated;

and may be compelled to be a witness against himself by the forced

submission of his body or any portion thereof, and by testimony in

proceedings excluding actual trial.  Private property forfeited under

judicial process shall become the exclusive property of the judicial

authority and shall be immune from seizure by injured parties.

AMENDMENT VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to

avoid prosecution by exhausting the legal process and its

practitioners.  Failure to succeed shall result in speedy

plea-bargaining resulting in lesser charges. Convicted persons shall

be entitled to appeal until sentence is completed.  It shall be

unlawful to bar or deter an incompetent person from service on a jury.

AMENDMENT VII

In civil suits, where a contesting party is a person whose private

life may interest the public, the right of trial in the Press shall

not be abridged.

AMENDMENT VIII

Sufficient bail may be required to ensure that dangerous persons

remain in custody pending trial. There shall be no right of the public

to be afforded protection from dangerous persons, and such protection

shall be dependent upon incarceration facilities available.

AMENDMENT IX

The enumeration in The Constitution of certain rights shall be

construed to deny or discourage others which may from time to time be

extended by the branches of Federal, State or Local government, unless

such rights shall themselves become enacted by Amendment.

AMENDMENT X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution

shall be deemed to be powers residing in persons holding appointment

therein through the Civil Service, and may be delegated to the States

and local Governments as determined by the public interest.  The

public interest shall be determined by the Civil Service.

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                     The Pen is mightier than the Sword.

                 The Court is mightier than the Pen.

             The Sword is mightier than the Court.

                                            - Rey Barry -

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