COMMENTARY
Bill of Rights faces serious tests
bearcn, seizure
interpretations
differ broadly
By Hasan Jafri
Emerald Contributor
1991 murks the bicentennial
of the Bill of Rights, the 10
amendments to the U S -Const i
tution tii.it protect individuals
against government intrusion
In 1791 the Bill of Rights
guaranteed the people free
speech, free press, free exercise
of religion, restrictions on the
power of police to search
homes and due process ol law,
to name a few.
Two hundred years later, ac
cording to some observers the
Bill of Rights is losing its pow
ers.
Indeed, the Bill ot Rights has
seen some serious tests recent
ly The Supreme Court ruled
that flag burning is a legitimate
form of political expression
protected by the First Amend
ment.
However, the highest court of
the land decided that using pe
yote in Native American reli
gious ceremonies is not protect
ed the First Amendment The
court also held that random
drug testing of public employ
ees did not violate the search
and seizure protection of the
Fourth Amendment.
Some observers view these
actions us a broad interpreta
tion of the Bill of Rights, while
others view them as curtail
ments of individual freedoms.
"1 would say there is serious
erosion of rights," said Stevie
Xsf
< 'V
C'T:.
Gtiptac by M»rtt* A/wWr»o«
Remington, executive director
of the Oregon i hapter of the
A m i: r i c a 0 Civil 1.1 i) e r! i e s
Union "The\ .ire culling 1><i« k
on decisions that lire r>0 vents
old."
Tom Coffin, a Kugeno federal
prosecutor who touches law ut
the University, sees it different
ly.
"The Dill of Rights is alive,"
Coffin said "If something is
alive, it breathes, it exhales and
inhales There is expansion and
contraction There is a certain
mindset that the Bill of Rights
is to expand civil liberties, and
anything elso is contrary to it
David Schuman, a constitu
tional law professor at the Uni
versity. said Americans are not
particularly fond of the Bill of
Rights
"I think Americans have u
strange relationship with the
Hill of Rights.” tir s.iiii "On
one hand, th<*\ worship tin'
crowning at hievement of tint
American democratii expel,
merit
"On tin' other hand. 1 think
that if tin' people could vote
thumbs up or down on a propo
sitfon to repeal the Hill ot
Rights, they will vote in favor
of repealing it
Ilie most serious erosion.
Schuntan said, is in the Fourth
Amendment, whit h prolm ts in
dividuals from unnei essarv
search and seizure The Fourth
Amendment has come to he
identified with i rlminals who
.ire caught with evid m e. espe
ciallv in the war against drugs,
he said
111 a lilHU Oallup pull. ’U per
lent of those surveyed respond
Turn toRIGHTS. Pago 6
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