Ted Strickland: “I rise in opposition to the bill. Last week a very offensive event took place in my hometown; the Ku Klux Klan held a…”

“I rise in opposition to the bill. Last week a very offensive event took place in my hometown; the Ku Klux Klan held a rally. While I was offended by their presence and despise their brand of hate mongering, I will defend their right to exercise their first amendment freedoms. I oppose this bill because, however inconvenient it may be, we must adhere to the principles contained within our Constitution and our Bill of Rights. The first amendment leads the list of our constitutional freedoms by guaranteeing rights that we all embrace: The freedom of religion; freedom of speech; freedom of the press; and the freedom to peaceably assemble. We revere and value these rights and at times die for the preservation of them. They embody the right of the minority to be protected against the tyranny of the majority. Following the first amendment in the Bill of Rights is the often-forgotten and much-maligned second amendment, that guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. In fact, the phrase used by the drafters is, 'shall not be infringed.' So, regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum-- conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat--if you are one who values the Constitution and the Bill of Rights you should not pick and choose from among these constitutional rights under the temptation to vote for this hollow promise of false security.”