Welcome to the Liberal Conservative’s look at the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, better known as the Bill of Rights, part 3 of 10!
“No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.”
The 3rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Seems a little outdated, doesn’t it? Given that we haven’t fought a full-scale war on our nation’s land in a couple of centuries it would definitely seem like an unnecessary piece of legislation.
But it really isn’t.
As I may have mentioned before in another article, this country was at one point young, naive, and fragile. This law meant that if we were ever invaded or otherwise at war on this here land, then the U.S. Government could not force you to house soldiers in your home against your will.
Since its official adoption into our nation’s law in early 1792 the 3rd Amendment is hardly ever cited in litigation, nor has it been the focus of a Supreme Court case. This probably has a lot to do with the fact alluded to earlier: there has been so little conflict on American soil that nobody really bats an eye to this legislation. Unless – of course – you’re Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) who seems to believe that “Big, Bad Black Man” Barack Obama is going to start doing this very thing in his quest to “…violate every single one of our Bill of Rights.”
That’s how desperate the TeaPublicans are. Every prediction that they have made about Obama coming for our Constitutional rights has fallen flat on its behind and now they’ve had to fall back on a law that has quite literally zero reason to be violated.
So, How Does This Amendment Apply To Modern America?
Okay, look: nobody can tell the future. Maybe one day the U.S. is invaded. By who? I don’t know. The Chinese only own a fraction of our debt and invading us wouldn’t necessarily get them their money back. Russia’s funny. North Korea is adorable. I’m pretty sure people in this country keep forgetting Cuba exists…
Still, though, the 3rd Amendment does still apply even to modern America. The fact that it hasn’t been argued against since its adoption by Thomas Jefferson and the United States Government way back when just goes to show how basic it is in the realm of American rights. Not to mention it’s clear simplicity in stating the obvious fact that your property is your property even during times of war and especially in times of peace. We don’t know what the future may hold and so this – the 3rd Amendment to the United States Constitution – is not that surprising in its longevity.
In conclusion: go, 3rd Amendment! Keep on rockin’! Rockin’ me, baby!
Edited/Published by: SB
