The Patriot Post® · Many Americans Clueless About First Amendment Protections

The Newseum Institute generates an annual survey called “State of the First Amendment,” and this year’s results illuminate the reason many Americans are nonchalant about the assault on religious liberty — because most have absolutely no idea that it’s constitutionally protected by the First Amendment. According to the 2015 survey, “When asked to name the five specific freedoms in the First Amendment, 57% of Americans name freedom of speech, followed by 19% who say the freedom of religion, 10% mention the freedom of the press, 10% mention the right to assemble, and 2% name the right to petition. Thirty-three percent of Americans cannot name any of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.” Alarming, yes, but shocking? Not really. When education establishments become more interested in gender and sexual orientation studies than in civics, American heritage and character development, society cannot be expected to uphold Rule of Law.