Arizona immigration law SB 1070 - Judge blocks some sections

Source:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/28/AR2010072801794_2.html?sid=ST2010072806353
:
Constitution Connection:  Amendment 10 states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Explanation of Connection:  In this article the Arizona law that was adopted in April 2010 has been one of the most toughest law on immigration ever written.  This Arizona law has many civil right groups very upset. Arizona states that the law is needed to stop the large number of illegal immigrants coming into Arizona. The law basically allows the police to ask detainees to show proof of citizenship.Immigrants have to carry their citizenship papers and if they don't it is a misdemeanor. This law has started a nationwide debate and a Justice Department lawsuit. A US District Judge, Bolton, declared the Arizona law unconstitutional one day before it was going to go into effect. The Governor of Arizona promised to take the appeal to the United States Supreme Court.

     It is important that all the States be in agreement in regards to immigration. We cannot have different states making up their own laws. This would cause chaos. There has to be a balance of powers. The individual states should not have the final say on immigration. We have to stand together on certain issues in order for the country to be safe.

U.S. opens criminal probe of oil spill

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38005.html

By JOSH GERSTEIN

6/1/10 1:50 PM EDT

Updated: 6/2/10 7:11 AM EDT
 
Constitution Connection: The Fifth Amendment states, " No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
 
Explanation of Connection:  The United States government is promising to seek out the persons responsible for the oil spill, especially if there were violations in the law. President Obama and Attorney General, Eric Holder state that their priority is to contain the spill then find the persons who were responsible for the spill and make them accountable.

     The government's efforts to find out what happened and to prosecute any person who might be responsible of crimes is forcing people involved to take the Fifth Amendment.  One of the rigs manager, Robert Kaluza, took the Fifth Amendment in order not to testify at a government hearing where he might incriminate himself or others who work for BP Organization.

     I feel that people need to feel that they are protected by the Amendments of the Constitution.  Although, people might be guilty of a crime they should still be given rights. If there are no rules or Amendments that are being enforced then there is the possibility that the Government could become abusive and do whatever they want . The  reason that the Constitution was written  was to protect the citizens of the United States. All the power cannot be held just  by the government.

    

Fourth Amendment Political Cartoon

Source: 
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/2261228251_ea70192df6_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/hughelectronic/2261228251/&usg=__DvilBXXIl3OM1D4aCUqZTYHFbqY=&h=2502&w=3150&sz=1535&hl=en&start=319&sig2=UzzkS_A3UkTsMGHr2xRDFQ&zoom=0&tbnid=hFmMrN6L0ssFpM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=150&ei=COd6TMGyFYyJnQeF2rGdCw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfourth%2Bamendment%2Bcartoon%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1245%26bih%3D464%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=530&oei=3-R6TKKlJN_nnQfx15UV&esq=3&page=29&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:319&tx=109&ty=82

Constitutional Connection: Fourth Amendment- "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Explanation of the Connection:  The Constitution of the United States grants all the citizens certain rights that cannot be taken away.  This was a  main reason the Constitution was written up.

This cartoon clearly shows that the right for an individual to fee safe in his home is being violated. The representatives from the telephone company are  listening to the girls conversation she is having on the phone. The mother of the girl is telling her that it is okay because the government has granted them permission to listen in.

I feel that the government should not have the right to listen in on private conversations. The government should have evidence that the person they are monitoring can be a real threat to the people of the United States. The must have very good evidence and be 100% sure.

High court strkes down Chicago handgun ban. June 29, 2010.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/28/us.scotus.handgun.ban/index.htm

Constitutional Connection:  Amendment 2 states: "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Explanation of Connection:  A man by the name of Otis McDonald from Chicago (McDonald v. Chicago-08-1521). believed he had the right to own a gun to protect himself from the gangs in his neighborhood. Chicago has some of the strongest laws against having guns. Chicago denied an application for a handgun permit. He appealed his case to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court  ruled Chicago, Illinois', 28-year-old strict ban on handgun ownership to be unconstitutional. 

This article demonstrates the power that the US Constitution has to make sure that the right of an individual to own a handgun. The government does agree that local governments has to have some measures to control the use of guns and most states have their own local laws.

I understand that the use of guns in may states is a problem. Many young boys and innocent people have died because guns are in the wrong hands.  I think  that people should be able to own a gun for protection. There has to be some guidelines and rules people have to follow if they are going to own a gun. The local governments have to figure  out how they are going to stop the  gang members and young people from acquiring guns illegally.

Hispanic Day Laborers Sue Freehold, Claiming Right to Gather to Seek Work

 Source : Hispanic day laborers sue freehold, Claiming Right to Gather to Seek Work.December 31, 2003.
 http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/31/nyregion/hispanic-day-laborers-sue-freehold-claiming-right-to-gather-to-seek-work.html?ref=freedom_of_assembly

Constitutional Connection: First Amendment. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Explanation of Connection:  A group of Latin men filed a suit that stated their First Amendment rights were being violated. They would come together to wait for contractors to hire them for landscaping or construction work on a daily basis.  The residents of the community did not like the men waiting around in groups. The community threaten to call Immigration on them. This article demonstrates that the New Jersey community did violate the men's right to assemble. They were not causing problems.. They just wanted to look for work.

It seems to me that the community were racial profiling. They were concerned that the men were illegal immigrants. I wonder if they would have done the same if the men were white or of European descent.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Constitutional Connection: Amendment 1 Freedom of religion, press and expression.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise thereof , or abiding the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a  redress of grievances."

Explanation of Connection: The political cartoon shows that politicians will listen to the special interests groups who have the financial background. The big companies who have the finances available to them are the ones who get heard in the government. They provide money to the politicians to get their agenda on the floor
    One has to wonder if the government provides for the freedom of speech. The cartoon implies that those with money are the ones with freedom of speech