Yes, but your assertion presupposes that our rights descend from the authority of government. They do not. Rights are not "granted" to us by the government, rather they are only "guaranteed" by our Constitution, which was intended mostly as a limitation of federal power. A right, by definition, must be something that I can exercise without imposing an obligation on my fellow citizen. Example: The First Amendment guarantees me the right to free speech, but in doing so, does not impose an obligation on you, or any other citizen, to listen to me if you choose not to. You have the right to cover your ears, tell me to shut up or simply walk away. It also guarantees me the right to worship as I choose, but that imposes no obligation on you to accept my beliefs. That is where the Ninth Amendment comes into play.
Regards,
Scott Perry
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