Gary Palmer: Kagan confirmation tests Republicans’ will to fight

  During Elena Kagan’s confirmation hearings, it became evident that she does not believe that Americans possess natural rights, rights that our Founding Fathers believed are self-evident, naturally belong to all people and pre-exist government. It was their view that legitimate governments are not created to grant these rights; rather, they are created to protect these rights.

  Among the natural rights that belong to every individual and that the Founding Fathers recognized as existing outside of government are the right to keep and bear arms and the right to speak on any subject or about any policy or politician. The Founding Fathers were careful to craft the Bill of Rights in such a way that it was absolutely clear that the proper role of the government was to protect our pre-existing rights.