Page 251 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country

Ninth Amendment

Other Individual Rights and Not All-Inclusive
"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be

construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
This amendment strikes many as confusing. However, recalling

that the Framers were both simplistic and precise, the meaning of
the amendment is significant. It simply states that not all rights are

known or enumerated, and any omission does not imply the lack
thereof in a right. Further, that any rights not herein provided for

are left to the people. This is a powerful amendment. It provides
two key concepts: 1) Re-asserts that the rights granted herein are by

the people and not by the government; and 2) Any rights not
provided for herein are reserved to the people and not to the

government.
The Bill of Rights, extending from the pursuit of Life, Liberty and

Happiness found in the Declaration of Independence, are a
collective of interwoven sacred unalienable and natural birthrights.

They are not granted by any government. There were ninety-five
natural rights first presented for consideration in the Bill of Rights.

These were reduced to twelve for consideration and ten
enumerated and ratified as the Bill of Rights. That ninety-five were

originally presented clearly demonstrates that the Framers could not
identify all the natural rights, and that it would be necessary to

prohibit the government from infringing upon them by reserving

them strictly to the people. This amendment does not provide for
an individual or collective to claim an ad hoc natural right. Any such
rights must still be provided for through the introduction and

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