US Constitution

[Knobby_Wheezer 0]

Greetings:

I am an LPR---a Legal Permanent Resident. I have no plans at this point of getting US citizenship so please don't offer advice for me to do so.

The current difficulty is this:

Does the Bill of Rights apply to me as an immigrant? I know it applies to citizens, but can't find any information about whether it applies to landed immigrants who do not hold citizenship status.

I am specifically concerned with what is termed the First Ammendment.

My USC spouse has no idea (of course).

Thanks muchly.

[Knobby_Wheezer 0]

Greetings:

I am an LPR---a Legal Permanent Resident. I have no plans at this point of getting US citizenship so please don't offer advice for me to do so.

The current difficulty is this:

Does the Bill of Rights apply to me as an immigrant? I know it applies to citizens, but can't find any information about whether it applies to landed immigrants who do not hold citizenship status.

I am specifically concerned with what is termed the First Ammendment.

My USC spouse has no idea (of course).

Thanks muchly.

http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/letter-house-urging-opposition-armey-amendment-shays-meehan-bill

Contains a sentence that runs---

"The courts have . . . found that while lawful permanent residents cannot vote, they do enjoy First Amendment rights."

Thanks everyone.

PS: I may have put this in the wrong forum. Please move, Capt Ewok, if I've done so.

[justashooter 430]

http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/letter-house-urging-opposition-armey-amendment-shays-meehan-bill

Contains a sentence that runs---

"The courts have . . . found that while lawful permanent residents cannot vote, they do enjoy First Amendment rights."

Thanks everyone.

PS: I may have put this in the wrong forum. Please move, Capt Ewok, if I've done so.

read up on sedition.

[canadian_wife 1,826]

1st Amendment rights are not all encompassing. The 'fire in a crowded theater' is one not covered, also speech that starts riots is not covered. Nor is slander/libel

Good luck

[Knobby_Wheezer 0]

1st Amendment rights are not all encompassing. The 'fire in a crowded theater' is one not covered, also speech that starts riots is not covered. Nor is slander/libel

Good luck

I am writing a letter to have myself removed from a religious order and wanted to know if my rights of freedom to practice, or not practice, a specific religion were violated by them if they did not comply with my wishes. I needed to know if I, as an LPR, had those rights. If I did not have those rights, then I could not include that paragraph.

Yes, it's a kind of form letter that you alter to fit your individual circumstances.

So, fires don't apply and neither does sedition. But, they were humourous nonetheless!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I am writing a letter to have myself removed from a religious order and wanted to know if my rights of freedom to practice, or not practice, a specific religion were violated by them if they did not comply with my wishes. I needed to know if I, as an LPR, had those rights. If I did not have those rights, then I could not include that paragraph.

Yes, it's a kind of form letter that you alter to fit your individual circumstances.

So, fires don't apply and neither does sedition. But, they were humourous nonetheless!

The intent of the establishment and freedom of religion clauses in the first amendment was to keep government out of the business of regulating or promoting religion or lack of religion. As a result, the government tends to be very reluctant to get involved in making decisions involving the internal rules of a religious sect unless those rules are a violation of law. I don't think the federal government can force a religious order to consider you no longer a member, but there's plenty of laws that can be invoked to force them to leave you alone.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Greetings:

I am an LPR---a Legal Permanent Resident. I have no plans at this point of getting US citizenship so please don't offer advice for me to do so.

The current difficulty is this:

Does the Bill of Rights apply to me as an immigrant? I know it applies to citizens, but can't find any information about whether it applies to landed immigrants who do not hold citizenship status.

I am specifically concerned with what is termed the First Ammendment.

My USC spouse has no idea (of course).

Thanks muchly.

The Bill of Rights applies to all people. Even illegal immigrants, AND if taken literally it applies to ALL HUMANS regardless of where they are. It has been our excuse for invading and killing hundreds of thousandss of people throughout the world. Good enough?

YES it applies to you.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The intent of the establishment and freedom of religion clauses in the first amendment was to keep government out of the business of regulating or promoting religion or lack of religion. As a result, the government tends to be very reluctant to get involved in making decisions involving the internal rules of a religious sect unless those rules are a violation of law. I don't think the federal government can force a religious order to consider you no longer a member, but there's plenty of laws that can be invoked to force them to leave you alone.

Bill of Rights restricts the government. How relgious orders, telephone solcitation and credit card offers affect your life is your business.

You have a RIGHT to practice any religion you choose, or none.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

1st Amendment rights are not all encompassing. The 'fire in a crowded theater' is one not covered, also speech that starts riots is not covered. Nor is slander/libel

Good luck

This is not correct. There IS NO LAW against yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre. If you think there is...find it and post it.

Rights carry responsiblities. IF you decide to excerise your RIGHT to yell "Fire" in a crowded theatre, YOU will be responsible for the result. You may be arrested, but NOT for saying the word "fire". You would be arrested for a variety of local or state violations such as "reckless Endangerment". Get really vocal about a consumer issue at your local retail store and they will drag you off in handcuffs...for "disorderly conduct".

Speech that starts riots is called "enciting a riot" any action that encites a riot is "enciting a riot" it does not have to be speech. Again it is responsibility, not a restriction on your rights.

These very points were covered in a Supreme Court ruling this year and they were very clear that these penalties are not for the use of free speech but for the results that come from the free use of speech. It was even argued that the violation of yelling "fire" was more a matter of contract law since the agreement with the theatre is that you can expect "quiet enjoymnet" of the movie for the price you paid.

All academic, to be sure. The basic fact remains, the Bill of Rights is a restriction on government, it does not restrict Religions from what they say. A religion that refuses to acknowledge a persons request to "opt out" could probably be sued civilly for various infractions, just as you can be for slander or libel...also civil violations. Libel and slander are not criminal behavior (unless un-truths are told under oath ...AND you are not a Democratic President lying about sex) No one is in prison for "slander".