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Jul 08, 2002

First Amendment Limits Congress, Not Us

Editor, Times-Dispatch: 

From what I've seen, on this Op/Ed Page and in the rest of America , the extent of the First Amendment is a major point of controversy in politics. In a burst of insight, I came up with an answer and decided to share it.

The First Amendment's main self-conflict springs from the question, "Do people have the freedom to limit other people's freedoms through other protected freedoms?" The answer, I'm sorry to say, is yes. The First Amendment begins, "Congress shall make no law abridging . . . ." It says nothing regarding the rights of private citizens. There are no "except whens," "unlesses," or "provided thats" in there. It's as simple as that. The First Amendment limits only Congress.

I don't see why this point isn't raised more often. Are people that ignorant of the Constitution? Either the government amends the Constitution, which would be a challenge to everything America stands for, or people wake up and learn a bit about the country they live in. And that, as they say, is that. 

Jason Edelman. 

Richmond .

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