State Constitutions and other stuff

I'll apologize for the length of this, once I got writing it got long! Its worth the read though, I promise!

I spent the past weekend manning a C4L booth at a very large Oktoberfest in St. Louis. It was great fun discussing liberty with happy people and beer and music.

We handed out hundreds of free US constitutions. We also handed out other free materials including Missouri Constitutions and our state's General Assembly Roster which lists every Missouri State Representative's and Senator's phone numbers and contact info.

We had to buy the US constitutions, but our state provides the other documents free of charge. In fact I order them a hundred at a time and whenever I'm in the state capital I drop by the Secretary of State's office an pick up more in person. Check with your state, I'm sure it is the same. They are great resources to have and hand out.

I especially liked giving US constitutions to any police officers I saw walking by. After reading the post about the guy in Pennsylvania getting searched and hassled for open carry, I thought I'd pass something along to everyone.

When I was handing out the constitutions I called over to two police officers I saw to give them a constitution. One said he had one, then we both recognized each other as old friends who had lost touch. We caught up a bit and he told me he voted for Ron Paul, etc. He's a good guy and one of the good cops. Then I offered him a Missouri Constitution. He told me he'd never seen one of those.

I gave him one and pointed out a few parts of the Missouri Bill of Rights. He was happy to get and and I know he is going to read it.

I'm a big fan of our state constitution. Overall is a pretty good piece of work, and it has a really great Bill of Rights.

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A few highlights I like:

Article 1 Section 1

Source of political power--origin, basis and aim of government.

That all political power is vested in and derived from the people; that all government of right originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.

Article 1 Section 2 Promotion of general welfare--natural rights of persons--equality under the law--purpose of government.

That all constitutional government is intended to promote the general welfare of the people; that all persons have a natural right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the enjoyment of the gains of their own industry; that all persons are created equal and are entitled to equal rights and opportunity under the law; that to give security to these things is the principal office of government, and that when government does not confer this security, it fails in its chief design.

Article 1 Section 3

Powers of the people over internal affairs, constitution and form of government.

That the people of this state have the inherent, sole and exclusive right to regulate the internal government and police thereof, and to alter and abolish their constitution and form of government whenever they may deem it necessary to their safety and happiness, provided such change be not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States.

Article 1 Section 4.

Independence of Missouri--submission of certain amendments to Constitution of the United States.

That Missouri is a free and independent state, subject only to the Constitution of the United States; that all proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United States qualifying or affecting the individual liberties of the people or which in any wise may impair the right of local self-government belonging to the people of this state, should be submitted to conventions of the people.

Article 1 Section 8

Freedom of speech--evidence of truth in defamation actions--province of jury.

That no law shall be passed impairing the freedom of speech, no matter by what means communicated: that every person shall be free to say, write or publish, or otherwise communicate whatever he will on any subject, being responsible for all abuses of that liberty; and that in all suits and prosecutions for libel or slander the truth thereof may be given in evidence; and in suits and prosecutions for libel the jury, under the direction of the court, shall determine the law and the facts.

Article 1 Section 9

Rights of peaceable assembly and petition.

That the people have the right peaceably to assemble for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances by petition or remonstrance.

Article 1 Section 23

Right to keep and bear arms--exception.

That the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or when lawfully summoned in aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned; but this shall not justify the wearing of concealed weapons. (Note: Missouri allows for concealed carry permits, which is a state statute, not a constitutional right)
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Okay, so now let me get back to my point. I carry pocket US constitutions everywhere and give them out. I even have two digital versions on my phone. But lately when I quote my constitutional rights, especially to my elected officials, I quote from the Missouri Constitution. When they hear this they seem to respond differently than when they hear people quote the US constitution.

They seem to realize at that point that the rights I'm quoting are not some nebulous issue that I'd have to take them to some federal court over, but something very much close to home that could really impact them.

I also use it to remind my elected officials of our state's sovereignty and how anything that violates our constitution must be either nullified or subjected to convention. I even quoted from it when I gave testimony before the MIAC committee.

I'd suggest everyone get familiar with their state's constitutions and learn their own state's bill of rights. I some cases they may be even better worded than the bill of rights in the US Constitution. (Compare the Missouri "Bear Arms" or "Speech" language to the US one.)

I live in the free and independent state of Missouri. I know my Missouri constitutional rights. I am a Missourian. I also happen to be an American. I know those rights too.