Gary L. Teeter

for Ohio Senate
      33rd District
 


 

1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging 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.

 
Gary's Views I firmly believe that James Madison, the Father of the Bill of Rights along with the rest of the Founding Fathers, clearly drafted the contents in the 1st Amendment first because they are of the most important to a free Nation. This Great Country we call  the United States of America was founded first and foremost for the Freedoms called out in our 1st Amendment.
Our Founding Fathers that embraced and enacted these basic rights contemplated the challenges and amendments that have followed. They were not perfect men, yet history reveals that they were men of God which respected His word. We can thank them for their sacrifice, courage and wisdom to start this country with this type of basic idealism.
I have serious concerns  where these 1st Amendment rights are being abused by anyone exercising unjust authority.
As your Ohio Senator I will defend these basic rights and freedoms from steeple to saloon.
Trivia

Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population.
Albert Einstein
US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
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visit: http://alliancedefensefund.org/main/default.aspx

 

6th Circuit Court of Appeals: First Amendment does not demand wall between church and state

In victory for Ten Commandments posted in Kentucky, court criticizes ACLU for misusing concept that is outside of the Constitution
Tuesday, December 20, 2005, 1:20 PM (MST) |
 
CINCINNATI - In a ruling handed down today affirming as constitutional a Ten Commandments display in Mercer County, Ken., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit declared, "The First Amendment does not demand a wall of separation between church and state."  The court also criticized the ACLU's repeated reference to the construct, calling it "tiresome" and "extra-constitutional."

 
 
In American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky v. Mercer County, the court wrote that "the ACLU makes repeated reference to 'the separation of church and state.'  This extra-constitutional construct has grown tiresome.  The First Amendment does not demand a wall of separation between church and state."

The court went on to note that the ACLU's argument that the Ten Commandments are religious does not answer the question of whether the display actually endorses religion.  The court stated that the ACLU "erroneously-though perhaps intentionally" equates merely recognizing religion as government endorsement of religion.  "To endorse is necessarily to recognize, but the converse does not follow," the court wrote.

The full text of the court's opinion can be read at ACLUvMCopinion.pdf. 
 
 

Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial cross is constitutional

Friend-of-court brief filed with 9th Circuit on behalf of The American Legion Department of California
Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 8:05 AM (MST) |
ADF Media Relations | 480-444-0020
 
SAN DIEGO — Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a friend-of-the-court brief Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in defense of a 55-year-old cross located at the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial. The American Civil Liberties Union and its allies are challenging the constitutionality of the cross, which is located on federal land at the memorial.  ADF attorneys represent The American Legion Department of California in the case.

“One person’s agenda shouldn’t diminish the sacrifices made by America’s veterans and their families,” said ADF Senior Counsel Joe Infranco.  “The ACLU claims to be ‘the foremost defender of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.’  Most Americans know, however, that title really belongs to the veterans whose memorial the ACLU is attacking.”

In 2007, ADF established a joint effort with Liberty Legal Institute and The American Legion to defend America’s veterans’ memorials from legal attack.  For nearly 20 years, a number of lawsuits have sought to tear down the 29-foot cross at Mt. Soledad.

In 2005, 76 percent of San Diego voters chose to preserve the cross by transferring the memorial from city property to the ownership of the U.S. Department of the Interior.  In 2006, Congress passed a law that officially transferred ownership.

Two lawsuits, including one by the ACLU, unsuccessfully challenged the constitutionality of the land transfer.  Now the ACLU is targeting the cross itself as being unconstitutional.  A district court rejected that claim as well, holding that the presence of the cross on federal land does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.  That decision is what is now on appeal to the 9th Circuit.

“The courts have already rejected a challenge to constitutionality of the land transfer.  Further, San Diegans have overwhelmingly supported allowing the cross to remain at the memorial,” Infranco explained.  “It’s time to bring an end to the ACLU’s ridiculous and offensive battle to strip the memorial of a symbol which pays tribute to our fallen soldiers.”


 

School rules out religion: Atlanta Public Schools challenged after blocking club

ADF attorneys file lawsuit against school district for denying Christian student club equal treatment
 Thursday, March 26, 2009, 10:35 AM (MST) |
 
ATLANTA — Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a complaint Wednesday against the Atlanta Public Schools on behalf of a student and his mother.  The two claim their constitutional rights have been violated by school officials who have repeatedly denied their Christian club access to the same rights, benefits, and privileges given to all other student clubs at Sutton Middle School.

“Christian student groups shouldn’t be discriminated against for their beliefs,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman.  “The First Amendment and federal law prohibit such actions on the basis of religion, and this has been established by decades of court precedent.”
 

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