The Liberty Observer & Guardian
Letter to House members on SB 62, sent 3/23/2009 with Norman's comments in red while existing sections of the Kentucky Dear House member, I am writing to ask you to vote against SB 62. The main problem I have with SB 62 is that it gives the media a special right to cover Section 1 (5)(b)4 (b) "Contribution" shall not include: 4. News stories, commentary, or editorials by the media; This allows the corporate media the right to do the very things that non 501(C)3 tax exempt organizations and individuals/persons will I have a real problem with this. I guess that being in my sixties makes me a bit old fashioned but I believe in our state Constitution and Section 26 of this antique document states: Section 26 To guard against transgression of the high powers which we have delegated, We Declare that every thing in this Bill of Rights is excepted out of the general powers of government, and shall forever remain inviolate; and all laws contrary thereto, or contrary to this Constitution, shall be void. Text as Ratified on: August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. I really like that simply because it is simple enough to understand that if a law is made and that if this law violates our Constitution I really hope that you don’t force us to do this because I feel there are several other sections of our Bill of Rights that this bill would be Kentucky Constitution Section 1 Rights of life, liberty, worship, pursuit of safety and happiness, free speech, acquiring and protecting property, peaceable assembly, redress All men are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned: First: The right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties. Second: The right of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences. Third: The right of seeking and pursuing their safety and happiness. Fourth: The right of freely communicating their thoughts and opinions. Fifth: The right of acquiring and protecting property. Sixth: The right of assembling together in a peaceable manner for their common good, and of applying to those invested with the Seventh: The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact Text as Ratified on: August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. I like this section simply because it says that I and my family, friends, neighbors or whomever have the right to express our Kentucky Constitution Section 8 Freedom of speech and of the press. Printing presses shall be free to every person who undertakes to examine the proceedings of the General Assembly or Isn’t that wonderful? “Every person may freely and fully speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that If there were to be any differences in we “PERSONS” then I am sure there wouldn’t be a Section 195 of our Constitution which reads : Kentucky Constitution Section 195 The Commonwealth, in the exercise of the right of eminent domain, shall have and retain the same powers to take the property and “……. and the exercise of the police powers of this Commonwealth shall never be abridged nor so construed as to permit corporations “Police” and that is what the Registry does in our campaigns, doesn’t it (?) “shall never be …… so construed as to permit I think that is what is meant and to finish up I want to give you section 2 of our Bill of Rights which certainly is simple to understand Kentucky Constitution Section 2 Absolute and arbitrary power denied. Absolute and arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in the largest majority. I take it that I have the right to speak as a "person" or even as a group and that no powers, "police" or whomever, have the I appreciate your time and hope that you love our Bill of Rights and Constitution as I do and will vote against SB 62 . Norman Davis 263 River Bend Lane
to get information out. If you have a story please send it to us. We can't pay you for the writings you may do as we have
to pass the hat around just to afford this endeavor.
Amendment issue web page. www.takebackkentucky.com handles our news and information on Legislative matters
concerning the Kentucky Legislature and the U.S. Congress.
Just as an example of what we do the below involves a matter that came up in the past Legislative Session where
the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (KREF) attempted for the 5th time in the past 10 years to have a law enacted
that would give the big media greater rights than we little peasants, for a lack of a better word.
The below is a copy of an email letter I sent to all of the House members when this bill, SB 62, sponsored by Republican
Senator Damon Thayer of the Georgetown area and Secretary of State, another Republican, Trey Grayson, testified
to convince the House to approve of these greater rights being given to the big media, should the bill have passed, over
the rights we people would have.
Needless to say I was, and still am, upset that 2 Republicans would even dream of such a bill. Yes, I am registered as a
Republican. I guess that makes me a Republican "Peasant" in the eyes of the elected or elite Republicans. Ask me if I care
if they like that term.
As a short synopsis of what I mean is that if you liked a candidate and you were to draw up and pay for copies of a
flyer to pass out you would have to register and file with the Registry of Elelction Finance. However, the Courier-Journal
or Lexington Herald leader can endorse a candidate and never ever have to file regardless of the hundreds of thousands
of dollars they spend or numbers of copies that go out to the public should this bill have passed.
NOW, YOU TELL ME IF THAT IS FAVORITISM OR NOT? You read the sections of our Constitution and tell me if they
would not be violating our rights if this passes.
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Constitution being in black. Sections of the proposed bill are in black and highlighted in yellow.
campaigns that it does not give living, breathing human beings. Below are the reasons I feel SB 62 should not now nor ever become law
in Kentucky in its present form.
not be allowed to do. Should the group that I am President of decide, which we do, to endorse candidates, pass out flyers and place
these endorsements on web sites we will be forced to file with the Registry of Campaign Finance. The media in the meantime can
endorse through editorials, which they do and place these stories on their web sites and NOT HAVE TO FILE WITH THE REGISTRY.
in particular the Bill of Rights encompassed in this Constitution.
General powers subordinate to Bill of Rights -- Laws contrary thereto are void.
History: Not yet amended.
it is “void.” Of course we ordinary and plain citizens have to take these violations to court to regain our rights but at least we have that
opportunity.
violating also. Lets take a look at Section 1:
of grievances, bearing arms.
power of government for redress of grievances or other proper purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance.
laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.
History: Not yet amended.
thoughts and opinions. It doesn’t say anything about if I can do this to or with these people except at election time or even only
at election time. IT MERELY SAYS THAT “I” AND “WE” HAVE THAT RIGHT! It doesn’t even say anything about only the
media having that right. As a matter of fact the Bill of Rights even goes further to say:
any branch of government, and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. Every person may freely and fully
speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.
liberty.” “Every person” surely includes me, us and the “corporate person” without differences. I didn’t see any differences listed in
this section of our Constitution, did you?
franchises of incorporated companies for public use which it has and retains to take the property of individuals, and the exercise of
the police powers of this Commonwealth shall never be abridged nor so construed as to permit corporations to conduct their business
in such manner as to infringe upon the equal rights of individuals. Text as Ratified on: August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
History: Not yet amended.
to conduct their business in such manner as to infringe upon the equal rights of individuals.” That is pretty plain to me.
corporations to conduct their business in such a manner as to infringe upon the equal rights”, EQUAL AS THERE SHALL
BE NO DIFFERENCE, ISN’T THAT WHAT IT SAYS?“ “…of individuals”.
the meaning of:
Text as Ratified on: August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
History: Not yet amended.
right to arbitrarily have control over this freedom of speech. I take it that I don't have to have a media exemption in some law
to speak and that any such law would violate every Kentuckians right to free speech. Therefore, I urge SB 62 be defeated
so as to NOT GIVE "ABSOLUTE AND ARBITRARY POWER TO AN AGENCY OF GOVERNMENT TO ONE CLASS OF
"LEGAL PERSONS" OVER ANOTHER.
Clarkson, KY 42726
