6/17/13

Bill of Rights: Article III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

 
I’m sure that in the eighteenth century this was a coveted right. Nowadays only lawyers find it useful. Although a stretch, I imagine it can be cited in cases of unlawful entry into a home or defense of a home to protect an owner’s privacy.

Historically, the government has never attempted to quarter troops in a private home since the American Revolution. It did happen in the Civil War but I suppose it was rightly reasoned that the rebels were the enemy and therefore not entitled to the protection of the Third Amendment.

Why is Article III still around gathering dust? Nostalgia might be one reason. So many rights these days are going down the toilet, that there is little appetite to mess around with the Bill of Rights. I would venture to guess that if it were repealed, the neocons would attempt to put an army tank in my garage.


 
 

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