Rights In The US

[Cassandro]

The Declaration of Independence was a statement of limitations on government power (i.e., inalienable rights). The original draft listed the examples of life, liberty and property, the latter changed to the pursuit of happiness in the final version.

This does not mean that the government has an obligation to guarantee those rights. Instead, it means that individual may not be prevented from defending those rights.

 

[Couchpotato]

She didn't say anything about "God."

That's what the "creator" is. You can call a dog a cat all day long, but that wont change what it is.

 

[Votto]

That's what the "creator" is. You can call a dog a cat all day long, but that wont change what it is.

Like it or not, the Founders agreed with the concept of their being a God and is what they established our rights upon.

Take them away if you like, but the results will not be pleasant.

 

[Chuz Life]

That's what the "creator" is. You can call a dog a cat all day long, but that wont change what it is.

I would like to see proof of any one "God" or "creator."

Until I see such proof of a God or Creator, I'm going with what I can prove.

My biological parents created me.

 

[Couchpotato]

Like it or not, the Founders agreed with the concept of their being a God and is what they established our rights upon.

Take them away if you like, but the results will not be pleasant.

So because 20-25 guys 200+ years ago believed something I am required to? Their belief in God has zero to do with whether rights are a creation of the human mind and only exist so long as it's a right we are willing to enforce. 1 second after your (insert right here) is no longer being enforced you no longer have it, and whether God granted you that right or not will be irrelevant.

 

[Couchpotato]

I would like to see proof of any one "God" or "creator."

Until I see such proof of a God or Creator, I'm going with what I can prove.

My biological parents created me.

Um, ok champ.

 

[Chuz Life]

Um, ok champ.

You're welcome.

 

[Chuz Life]

So because 20-25 guys 200+ years ago believed something I am required to? Their belief in God has zero to do with whether rights are a creation of the human mind and only exist so long as it's a right we are willing to enforce. 1 second after your (insert right here) is no longer being enforced you no longer have it, and whether God granted you that right or not will be irrelevant.

This raises the question.

"What is a right" as rights pertain to this discussion?

Let's define what a right is.

 

[Couchpotato]

This raises the question.

"What is a right" as rights pertain to this discussion?

Let's define what a right is.

I already answered that question dum dum. Try and keep up.

 

[Chuz Life]

I already answered that question dum dum. Try and keep up.

Whether you think you answered it or not, You are going on iggy now. Just for being a ******* asshole. My Iggy, My RIGHT.

 

[Couchpotato]

Whether you think you answered it or not, You are going on iggy now. Just for being a ******* asshole. My Iggy, My RIGHT.

OH noes...

 

[scruffy]

Whether you think you answered it or not, You are going on iggy now. Just for being a ******* asshole. My Iggy, My RIGHT.

The pursuit of happiness.

 

[M14 Shooter]

We have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Life, liberty, property, self-determination.

Anyway, I was just wondering, do people in the US have the right to not be victimized by criminals? In other words, do citizens have the right to expect that our law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, judges, etc. or the federal government stop us from being victims of crime?

No. The police are under to legal or constitutional imperative to protect you.

We have the right to life, which can easily be argued that we have the right to not be murdered.

Not exactly. Murder is a crime because it violates your right to life.
You have the right to life, and by extension, the right to defend your right to life.

And, we also have the right to our pursuit of happiness but how can we be happy when we are the victims of all kinds of crime and our law enforcement or governments fail to protect us?

Pursuit of happiness refers to property rights.
See "murder", above.

Democrats claim that violent crime is down...

Because it is politically expedient for them do to so, in a response to Trump wanting to use the NG to enforce the law.
If you suggest the fact violent crime is down demonstrates that we do not need more gun control laws, these same Democrats will argue against you.

 

[M14 Shooter]

I have a question for you and those interested in your OP.
"Where do your rights come from?"

Below are the Big Three of American political philosophy, from which our political system derives:

The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but to have only the law of nature for his rule.
- John Locke, Second Treatise on Government, 1689

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
-Thomas Jefferson, 1776

The 2nd Amendment guarantees the ability of the governed to withdraw that consent.
-M14 Shooter, 2024

 

[Chuz Life]

Below are the Big Three of American political philosophy, from which our political system derives:

The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but to have only the law of nature for his rule.
- John Locke, Second Treatise on Government (1689)

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
-Thomas Jefferson, 1776

The 2nd Amendment guarantees the ability of the governed to withdraw that consent.
-M14 Shooter, 2024

Do you have a personal view on what your own basic human rights are and where you get them from?

 

[M14 Shooter]

Do you have a personal view on what your own basic human rights are and where you get them from?

See my quote from Locke.

 

[Billiejeens]

I would like to see proof of any one "God" or "creator."

Until I see such proof of a God or Creator, I'm going with what I can prove.

My biological parents created me.

No offense to your parents but something more intelligent than them designed us.

Could have been aliens from a far away galaxy.
But that just begs the question
Who designed them.

 

[Chuz Life]

No offense to your parents but something more intelligent than them designed us.

Could have been aliens from a far away galaxy.
But that just begs the question
Who designed them.

None taken.

Not to divert again, but I'm cool if it was all just a big freakish accident (not by design at all.)

I'm still here, and my basic human rights are an inherent part of my being. Regardless.

 

[Billiejeens]

None taken.

Not to divert again, but I'm cool if it was all just a big freakish accident (not by design at all.)

I'm still here, and my basic human rights are an inherent part of my being.

Who or what, had that accident?

 

[Chuz Life]

Who or what, had that accident?

Good question.

We may never know.