When Revolutionaries visit the General Assembly

02.04.2009 | Jefferson City, Missouri

By Kevin L. Kobe

Members of Kansas City's Liberty Restoration Project arrived in Jefferson City just seconds before the 8:00a.m. Special committee on families meeting. Several persons were hoping to view a debate on abortion issues. However, one clause in HR 212 derailed the debate. LRP was hoping to state our case.

It was not our case to make, however, it was the case of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. It was the case of the sovereignty of the state of Missouri to stand superior in the creation of laws within its borders. It was something that I personally felt that Missouri Legislators should look at as job security.

This is exactly what I had testified to during my few moments to speak to the house committee. When the federal government can overturn state laws at their every whim, why even have a body to make state laws?

The opposition to the bill, argued the normal Abortion rights issues, and argued that this bill seemed to be in opposition to a bill on the Federal level that had not been presented yet. They argued that Missouri's laws were not in immediate danger, and that even if the Federal government overstepped their bounds, that these issues would be determined by the courts, as women's health issues.

Again, The Constitution does not allow for multiple legislative bodies to be equals in conflict, with the courts deciding which differences are sovereign based on an individual's rights. This would be legislating from the court bench.

Also, the opposition offered an interpretation of the tenth amendment that focused on the last part of it. "Amendment X : The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." They focused on a claim that the rights of a sovereign person are superior to the state. (assuming they mean the right to choose an Abortion is a person's right first, superseding bodies of established government.) The question here is, How does a sovereign individual make a law? Through petitioning, and changing of the body of laws through a vote or through petitioning their elected representatives in State or Federal government.

The issue is not whether the "Freedom of Choice Act" or similar legislation becomes law in Missouri, the issue is whether the law is passed by the US Congress or the Missouri General Assembly (or the courts if you happen to agree with those who were in opposition to this legislation). We are a Republic. That means that even the voices not in the majority should have a say in the laws imposed on them. This is why we have state government. The United States may be one large body, but the insurance of freedom is dependent on different sections of the population being able to live under their own sets of values. What works for south-central Los Angeles might not work in rural Missouri. This is why it is clearly defined in the United States Constitution that it is a right of the state to decide how to proceed with dealing with these issues.

After the committee hearing on this bill, the members of Liberty Restoration Project were introduced on the floor of the General Assembly as special guests of Representative Cynthia Davis of District 19 - St. Charles County. Then we spoke with Representative Jim Guest momentarily, as the session began, before we went to some offices to request meetings with our own district officials.

The whole day was very exhilarating to see in person the types of debates that go on in the halls of government, however, the brightest point for this activist did not happen inside the capitol building, but outside as we were leaving. There were protesters outside holding signs. One of them said "Tell Barack to get his peace on!" That is a federal government issue I can get behind!