How to Protect Your Rights When Government Won’t!

Most of us know these words from The Declaration of Independence. We cherish the idea that we have unalienable rights, rights that even if they are suppressed, cannot be taken away. But how many know what comes next?

The primary purpose of governments is to secure our rights. These governments derive their power from our consent; they are there to serve us. Which is why we used to call government employees Public Servants. What happens though, when governments fail at their purpose of protecting our rights? What can be done when those in government exercise powers beyond our consent? Founding Father John Jay told us what we need to do.

Every member of the State ought diligently to read and to study the constitution of his country, and teach the rising generation to be free.

John Jay

John Jay said every one of us should read and study the constitution of this country. When was the last time you read the Constitution? Have you ever taken the time to truly study it or teach your children about it? I’ve heard plenty of reasons why people don’t pay much attention to the Constitution.

• I don’t have the time.
• It’s too hard to read.
• That’s what we have schools for.

How well has that worked out for you? For decades, most Americans have handed off their children to government schools to teach them. And surprise, surprise, government schools did not teach them to be free, but to be subjects of government. The Constitution isn’t taught in most schools today. Even most law schools teach judges’ opinions about the Constitution rather than the document itself. So if we want to learn about the Constitution, if we want to teach our children to be free, we must do it ourselves.

John Jay’s quote doesn’t end there. Instead, he answers the very important question, “Why should I bother reading and studying the Constitution?

By knowing their rights, they will sooner perceive when they are violated, and be the better prepared to defend and assert them.

John Jay

The reason we should all read and study the Constitution is so we can recognize when our rights are being violated and are prepared to both defend and assert them. Yet most Americans will spend their entire life not knowing how to defend their rights for themselves. They will look to others to defend their rights. Most Americans look to the President to defend their rights, but Presidents have often failed us. Some look to the courts, but they have failed us as well. Some even look to political parties for the salvation of their rights, yet our current political parties have done more to destroy our rights than protect them. Most Americans seem to think there’s nothing they can do but sit back and watch while politicians, judges, and society as a whole fights over the scraps of the freedoms we used to enjoy. According to John Jay, however, there is something we can do, but most people don’t know how.

The Constitution Study

The Constitution was written so 18th century farmers could understand it. So why can’t 21st century Americans? The answer is not can we understand it, but how do we go about doing so? John Jay didn’t say we should take a class on the Constitution, he said we should read and study it for ourselves. The question then becomes, how can we make reading and studying the Constitution easier and more effective?

First, you need study partners, people with whom you can discuss and debate. People who can encourage you when you get stuck and bring other points of view so you can find the truth. Second, you need a mentor, someone with experience to help guide you through your studies, someone with the ability to answer the questions your study partners can’t, and someone to give perspective and guidance while you develop your constitutional skills. Enter, The Constitution Study!

I started The Constitution Study in 2013, with a group in upstate New York. The idea behind this study was quite simple: Why don’t Americans read and study the Constitution the way my friends and I study the Bible? Getting together in small groups, reading the text, discussing it, debating it, and seeking how to apply it to our hectic lives today. And you know what? It worked. We spent many evenings discussing what we had read, debating what the authors meant, and why. Most importantly, we kept seeking answers to the question of what do we do to protect our rights. As our knowledge and understanding grew, so did our ability to stand up for ourselves and to defend our rights. Better yet, it wasn’t just a bunch of older people wishing for days gone by. We had several young adults who were not only exposed to the Constitution, but the ideas of self-government and the need to defend our own rights. The time I have spent studying the Constitution with family, friends, and neighbors has not only been educational, but very rewarding. Now I’m bringing this opportunity to you.

Life is Short. Eat Dessert First!

Let’s face it, the parts of the Constitution that interest most people are the protections of their rights. So that is the place we’ll start. I hosting an online study of The Bill of Rights. Best of all, and you can watch it ABSOLUTELY FREE!

You may be asking yourself, with all the free constitution classes available, why should I listen to Paul? Fair question. After decades of ignorance about the Constitution, my rights, and how governments in America work, I heard the John Jay quote I mentioned before. I took this as a challenge and read the Constitution for the first time in my life. When I did, I was struck by two things. First was how much of the Constitution I had not been taught in school. Second was how much I had been taught that was actually wrong. We often hear ‘what you don’t know won’t hurt you’, but experience tells me that ‘it’s what you know that’s not true that gets you in real trouble’. And based on the questions I’m often asked, there are a whole lot of people who know things about the United States which just aren’t true.

After my original Constitution Study, I looked around for ways to share my new-found knowledge of rights and liberty with more people. This led me to spend two years writing a book called The Constitution Study. I used the National Archives website to read the original sources and study the founding documents of this country: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I then took each and every clause, read it, studied it, and parsed the language to gather its meaning. I used the writings of several of the Founding Fathers, including both the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, and the dictionary of Noah Webster, to help me understand what they meant when they wrote those words down. Then I wrote what I learned in a form any 21^st Century American can understand.

After publishing the book, I began an organization called The Constitution Study to help people look at current events from a constitutional point of view. I have published almost 300 articles and videos, taught numerous classes across the country, and now host a daily radio program discussing constitutional subjects. The need for education on the Constitution that everyday Americans can not only understand, but use, has so driven me that I walked away from a 30-year career in Information Technology to help others learn about the Constitution, their rights, and how to defend and assert them.

Why Should I Bother?

Sure, knowing your rights is important, but does it make a difference today? After all, it seems no one in government or the legal profession seems all that interested in what the Constitution actually says. Why should I learn this if it isn’t going to make a difference?

Shortly after COVID hit, I was scheduled to attend a homeschool event in a neighboring country. Just a few days before the event, that county instituted a mask mandate. After setting up my table, the person coordinating the event stopped by. She told me that the county had instituted a mask mandate, but since we were on private property we should be OK. However, since we were right next to the street, she wasn’t sure how the police would react. I told her I didn’t care because the mask mandate was illegal, void, and if the police tried to enforce it they were committing a federal crime. I then handed her a flyer where I provided the proof that I had just said was true. Her response was, “If the police show up, I’m sending them to your table.” The police did not show up that day, but I believe I opened her eyes to the possibility of living as a free citizen. More importantly, I showed that I was prepared to both defend and assert not only my rights, but the rights of my fellow exhibitors and attendees. I’ve received comments and emails from people who have used what they learned to defend their rights. The most moving are the ones where a person’s readiness to defend their rights brought others, especially government officials, around to their way of thinking.

If you want the power to influence those in government, you need the tools to do so. One of the most powerful is knowledge of your rights and how they are protected by the constitutions and laws of both our states and the United States. It also helps if you are willing to put those protections into action.

Why Should I Take This Course?

“Paul, there are plenty of other courses out there. Why should I take yours?” That’s a very good question. Rather than answering it myself, let me show you what other people have said:

What You’ll Get

When you sign up for The Constitution Study, I’ll give you a study of the Bill of Rights absolutely free. Not only will you get to join the study, but I’ll give you a free digital copy of my book, The Bill of Rights: Study the rights our Founders thought were so important they needed to be protected for the United States to exist. This book will help you review and reinforce the topics we cover in the study.

To do justice to The Bill of Rights, and to allow plenty of time for questions and discussions, we had three 90 minute sessions. We all joined a Zoom meeting, where we read the Bill of Rights, talked about some of the history and meaning of the different amendments, and all had the chance to discuss, debate, and ask questions. I recorded each session and posted them on The Constitution Scholars website. (You’ll need to register for a free account on The Constitution Scholars website to access the recording.)

Do You Want More?

I’m confident that after you’ve been through The Bill of Rights section of the study, you will want to learn more. If you decide to join us, here is what you’ll get:

• Invitations to all of The Constitution Study online events.
• Access to all of The Constitution Study recordings.
• Access to The Constitution Study community group on The Constitution Scholars.

Constitution Scholars

To access The Constitution Scholars website, you will need to register for a free account. As a Scholar you will not only be able to access The Constitution Study material, but you’ll be joining a group of students who are learning about their rights, liberties, and the Constitution that protects them. As a Scholar, you have access to a library of books and videos to help you study, not to mention a growing catalog of classes. Best of all, you can join our Scholar Communities. These communities are designed to help you find others to study with, share information, and to make friends. There’s a community for each state, plus one for the Constitution of the United States. As interest grows, we’ll be adding more communities to help you focus your studies on topics that matter to you.

How Do I Get The Constitution Study?

Simply register for your free account at The Constitution Scholars, then join The Bill of Rights group absolutely free. You will find instructions on accessing your book and the recorded lessons in a discussion post in the group.

If you want to join the rest of The Constitution Study, there are two ways to join us, both available at at The Constitution Scholars store.

• Purchase The Constitution Study for $200.
• Sign up for an Apprentice Scholarship.

The Constitution Study

I know, $200 sounds like a lot of money, but look at what you’ll get for that:

• A clause by clause study of the entire Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
• Invitations to every Study session.
  • I’m still building the schedule, but I expect it to take at least 15-20 sessions to go through both the Declaration and the Constitution.
  • Add that to the three sessions for the Bill of Rights and that’s only about $10 per session.
  • You can have as many people join you as possible in one location.
• Access to The Constitution Study course on The Constituiton Scholars website.
  • Watch the recorded sessions as many times as you want.
  • Take the quizzes and pass the final test to receive your certificate of completion.
• Access to The Constitution Study Group on The Constitution Scholars website.
  • Join with others who are participating in the study, along with those who have already completed it.
  • Be part of the discussion, ask questions, and enjoy the camaraderie.

Limited Time Offer!

From now until New Years, I’ll give you 50% off the full study. That means you can attend all the sessions, access the entire course, and The Constitution Study Group for just $100!

Apprentice Scholarship

The Apprentice Scholarship is the first of three levels of scholar mentoring at The Constitution Scholars. As a Scholar, you’ll receive:

• Access to the Apprentice Library and Classes.
  • Including The Constitution Study.
• A 5% discount on products in the store (memberships not included).
• Invitation to Scholar Only Events.
• I’ll even find someone to mentor you as you learn more about the Constitution and how to teach it to others.

All this for just $5/month! And I’ll give you the first month free!

Guarantee

After you’ve been through the free study of the Bill of Rights, I’m confident you’ll want to join the rest of The Constitution Study. Of course, you maybe wondering, what if I don’t like it? Don’t worry, I provide a 100%, No Questions Asked Guarantee. If you are unsatisfied with The Constitution Study, I’ll refund 100% of your tuition. If you become an Apprentice Scholar and decide to stop, I’ll refund that months membership fee. In either case, you can keep the free book as my gift.

Act Now!

The free study of Bill of Rights is just the beginning. You don’t want to miss out on:

• The free study
• The free book
• The chance to discuss the Bill of Rights with others

Start your study today! It’s free, and there’s no commitment to buy later. Just register for your free account and join the free group.

PS. This would also be an excellent opportunity to teach your children to be free. Use The Constitution Study as extra credit or for your homeschool child’s civics credit.