• Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

The Fifth Amendment guarantees that we will not have double jeopardy, the right to remain silent, that our property will not be seized and that we shall get due process. As the government’s ever reaching shadow grows, we must rely on this one.

Recently, I read a story about a couple whose property was seized by the police because the couple did not want to allow it to be used for a sting. The police forcibly took it, despite the couple committing no crime.

The Fifth Amendment is suppose to guarantee us protection from this. In this growing world where United States history is being forgotten, we should research our rights for this. We have the right to a grand jury, due process, and right to avoid double jeopardy.

Personally, I think when a criminal case is brought before a judge, and the defendant is acquitted, he should not be tried for the same actions in a civil court. That is merely my opinion, I welcome yours, but it seems to me that, no matter if the crime changes from “murder one” to a “violation of civil rights,” you’re still being charged because of the same crime. This is double jeopardy and it is against the Fifth Amendment.