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by sidewndr46 24 days ago
How can I have a civil right to life? I'm aware I have a civil right to things like voting, a jury trial (for certain charges), legal representation. Those are all things the civic institutions provide to me. Civic institutions don't provide me life.
1 comments
mandevil 24 days ago
The US Constitution is an amazing document, I suggest you read it if you are an American. It's pretty short and has a lot of stuff that is useful to know, even if you aren't a lawyer (I am not). Because I am not a lawyer, I didn't word it exactly correctly.

The Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution says, in its entirety:

"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 key in this context is "No person shall ... be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law." If a government agent takes that from you without due process that is a civil right of yours being abridged, at least in the US. I can't speak for other countries.

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sidewndr46 24 days ago
Those are constitutional rights, by definition.
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pseudalopex 23 days ago
You meant what? The civil rights you identified were constitutional rights.
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sidewndr46 23 days ago
From my perspective civil rights are the constitutional rights that the government can uniquely deprive you of. For example, a jury trial. No one else can try you, so only the government can deprive you of that right. It's fairly limited in practice anyways, but it is true.

The right to life, etc. anyone can deprive you of.

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pseudalopex 19 days ago
No. The US Civil Rights Act covered discrimination from business owners for example. And anyone could prevent you to vote or attempt coercion.
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sidewndr46 17 days ago
Elections are not private. I don't see how someone could stop me from voting. If they do that is just kidnapping, threats of violence, etc.
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