Spinkos tourney,Partial Semi-Finals: Assasination of US citizens is constitutional

According to the 5th amendment to the US constitution, and part of the bill of rights, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury…; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life… without due process of law”.[1] Article 3 section 3 defines treason, and the manner in which one can be found guilty of and punished for treason. Article 3 section 3 states, “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.”[2] Since a US citizen can’t be deprived of life without due process, and they cannot be held to answer for capital or infamous crimes without a presentment or indictment by a grant jury, they cannot be assassinated. Furthermore, because a US citizen cannot be convicted of treason unless two witnesses testify against them, or he stands before an open court to confess his crimes, one cannot be marked for death for being a traitor, without due process. If a US citizen was to be assassinated they would be denied their right to due process of law. If a US citizen was to be assassinated for waging war against the US, plotting against the US, or assisting the enemies of the US, than they would once again be denied their right to due process according to article 3 section 3 of the constitution. Unless one officially gives up their citizenship, they must be convicted of treason before they can be assassinated as a public enemy. Nowhere in the constitution does it allow for the assassination of US citizens, but rather it makes clear that such acts are prohibited. One of the reasons for separation listed in the declaration of independence was “For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury”. [3] "I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet devised by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution." ~ Thomas Jefferson According to the 5th amendment to the US constitution, and part of the bill of rights, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury…; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life… without due process of law”.[1] Article 3 section 3 defines treason, and the manner in which one can be found guilty of and punished for treason. Article 3 section 3 states, “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.”[2] Since a US citizen can’t be deprived of life without due process, and they cannot be held to answer for capital or infamous crimes without a presentment or indictment by a grant jury, they cannot be assassinated. Furthermore, because a US citizen cannot be convicted of treason unless two witnesses testify against them, or he stands before an open court to confess his crimes, one cannot be marked for death for being a traitor, without due process. If a US citizen was to be assassinated they would be denied their right to due process of law. If a US citizen was to be assassinated for waging war against the US, plotting against the US, or assisting the enemies of the US, than they would once again be denied their right to due process according to article 3 section 3 of the constitution. Unless one officially gives up their citizenship, they must be convicted of treason before they can be assassinated as a public enemy. Nowhere in the constitution does it allow for the assassination of US citizens, but rather it makes clear that such acts are prohibited. One of the reasons for separation listed in the declaration of independence was “For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury”. [3] "I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet devised by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution." ~ Thomas Jefferson 1. http://www.archives.gov... 2. http://www.archives.gov... 3. http://www.archives.gov...