Constitutional Law

Published: Thursday, December 10, 2020

Today, December 10, 2020, the law firm of Rhoades, Siefert & Erickson, PLLC, in Missoula, Montana, filed a lawsuit against Montana Governor Steve Bullock on behalf of a host of plaintiffs, alleging Governor Bullock’s mask orders, shutdowns, lockdowns, social distancing requirements, etc., are an egregious violation of the constitutional liberties of the people of Montana. The complaint was filed in the Montana First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County (Helena).

Each plaintiff in this lawsuit wrote a summary statement as to why he or she decided to be a plaintiff in the case. As one of the plaintiffs, here is my summary statement:

From the beginning of our country’s existence, the fundamental Natural liberty deemed sacrosanct to the very purpose of our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights was Religious Liberty. That fact is easily seen as James Madison put the freedom of worship and the freedom of assembly in the very first Article of our Bill of Rights—with the strongest statement “no law . . . prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

The First Amendment protects the Biblical duty of Christian people to “forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Christians are instructed to “lay hands” on disciples as a means of setting them apart for Christian service (Acts 8:17; Acts 6:6; Acts 13:3; Acts 19:6; Acts 28:8). We are instructed to “greet one another with a holy kiss.” (Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 16:20; II Corinthians 13:12; I Thessalonians 5:26)

How are we to baptize our converts without touching them, embracing them and, of course, immersing them? When sick, Christians are instructed to call upon the elders of the church that they might “pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14)

Our great Savior and Teacher—our Example in every way—constantly touched people, held people, embraced people. Jesus was a most touchy Savior. (Matthew 8:3; 8:15; Matthew 9:29; Matthew 17:7; Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41; Mark 7:33; Luke 5:13; Luke 22:51)

Were there no communicable diseases during the first century?

Governor Steve Bullock’s mandates that limit the numbers of people who can gather at one place—including churches—that require social distancing between individuals and mandates that healthy people wear masks as a requirement to interact with society is an egregious abridgment against our individual liberties enshrined in Natural Law and protected in constitutional law and an even greater abridgment against our God-given Religious Liberty protected in law since before our nation came into existence.

Think of it: America faced a War for Independence, a Civil War, the War of 1812—all fought on American soil. We faced two world wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. We have faced pestilences of every sort. My parents lived through the Great Depression.

In all of this, NEVER were churches forced to close or told how many people could or could not attend their worship services. At no time did government mandate they wear masks and stay 6 feet apart.

I distinctly remember my mom and dad telling me of the awful poverty, disease and sickness that people experienced every day during the Great Depression. But no matter the pain and affliction of their circumstances, they came together on the Lord’s Day to worship and sing and pray and to draw inner strength from spiritual inspiration and instruction.

While Germany was bombing the city of London into the Stone Age during World War II, Christian families would gather in the bombed-out, gutted churches to worship and pray together.

Even in horrific times such as these, no government had such audacity as to prohibit Christian assemblies or limit the number of worshippers or mandate that people hide their faces from each other and avoid one another’s presence.

I view Governor Bullock’s mandates as an assault against our Christian faith, an assault against our Religious Liberties, an assault against the Natural Laws of God enshrined in our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights and, yes, an assault against our very humanity.

In days of old, civil magistrates such as Steve Bullock would not merely be driven from office but would be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail.

I invite all of my readers—including those in the media—to go to our website to read the complaint for yourself. Please share this lawsuit with everyone you can. This lawsuit is fighting for the basic constitutional liberties of every person in this country—not just in Montana. A win would set a precedent for the entire nation.

I also encourage every lover of Liberty to join this effort in any way that you can. Those of you in the media are especially encouraged to cover this story and contact our lead counsel, Quentin Rhoades, for more information.

Most people seem content to grumble and complain but actually do very little to protect and defend Liberty. And that’s exactly why Liberty is losing in this country.

But here is a motivated, enthusiastic group of people—and a courageous Liberty lawyer—who are doing more than just talk. They have stepped up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is. I am honored to be named among them.

We need your help. Liberty needs your help. I am asking readers to help make history. Ask yourself: In your entire lifetime, how many opportunities will you have to do something that could truly make a difference in the preservation of Liberty in our land?

Well, here is such an opportunity.

P.S. We are still shipping the giant compilation of America’s greatest historical documents. This giant collection is available only here, and our supply will not last much longer.

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Read these great documents, and you’ll realize just how far America (especially our political and religious leaders) has strayed from the roots of Liberty once planted so very deeply in the soil of this wonderful country.

Read THE FREEDOM DOCUMENTS, and you’ll understand that what Governor Steve Bullock and these other would-be tyrants in the medical, political and religious establishments are doing is a much greater abuse of our Natural liberties enshrined in our founding documents than anything King George and the British Crown ever thought about doing.

Again, our supply of THE FREEDOM DOCUMENTS won’t last much longer.

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