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Opinion: Americans can practice or not practice any religion they please, says Gouverneur man

Posted 8/5/22

To the Editor: Perhaps the residents of North Country should read the US Constitution clearly before making any grandiose claims of the religion of the United States. The first amendment states: …

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Opinion: Americans can practice or not practice any religion they please, says Gouverneur man

Posted

To the Editor:

Perhaps the residents of North Country should read the US Constitution clearly before making any grandiose claims of the religion of the United States. The first amendment states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In other words, the US does not have a national religion and we the citizens can practice or not practice any religion we please. It is rather comical that residents around here get extremely worked up about the second amendment, and yet have conveniently ignored the first amendment and what freedoms it gives the citizens of the United States. Perhaps these residents may wish to find a different country that provides them the ability to have a national religion.

If you wish to keep your guns, then some of us wish to keep whatever religion we practice or do not practice. It seems that NY-21 has several residents who may need to take a citizenship test to ensure they fully comprehend what being American means.

James Daniels
Gouverneur