On February 26, 2015, State Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (D-Fla.-9) filed House Memorial 1129, entitled “A memorial to the Congress of the United States, urging Congress to repeal and nullify all existing applications by the Florida Legislature that call for a constitutional convention.” Representative Vasilinda recognizes the true danger and threat to our Constitutional Republic posed by a modern-day constitutional convention or “Convention of the States,” as it is referred to by many of its supporters. The last time that such a convention was convened was in Philadelphia in 1787 when General George Washington, James Madison, and the various delegates from the thirteen United States assembled to propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation and instead gave us what is now our current Constitution.
Although pursuant to Article V of the Constitution, a modern-day convention would not have the luxury of having such enlightened delegates, such as Madison and Washington. Those statesmen present in Philadelphia understood the virtues of liberty and a constitutional republican form of government, but who amongst us comes close to those Founding Fathers?
Like the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, a new constitutional convention would consolidate the inherent powers of a free people, whose right “to alter or abolish” our government is enshrined in the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence:
Because of this inherent right of the sovereign people, an Article V convention cannot be limited, otherwise it would never succeed in empowering the people to make the necessary changes in the Constitution, in case the government should ever become oppressive due to defects in the Constitution.
However, the Constitution is not the problem and neither is Article V the solution; rather the solution is the Constitution. The Constitution should not be amended or rewritten, it should be restored. (Click on graphic at left for a free PDF article download about three reasons to oppose any Article V convention.)
Due to the unlimited nature of the Article V convention process, we should not risk damaging the Constitution through the convening of such a constitutional convention regardless of how appealing the proposed amendment(s) may be. You now have the ability to help preserve the Constitution by helping to convince your state legislators to rescind all of Florida’s previous applications for an Article V convention. Contact your state representative and senator now and urge them to support and vote YEA on the passage of HM 1129.
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Please also phone and/or visit your state legislators in support of HM 1129. Click here for contact information. [-] less
