Bill of Rights in Action: Examples of Freedom versus Safety

Introduction: As you may recall, the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the Constitution) were added to protect citizens from a “tyrannical government.” The Bill of Rights offers protection from an abusive government that seeks to take away your freedom in the name of safety or security. However, the Bill of Rights is a living document, which means that what one person may feel is a reasonable limit, another may not. To this end, every day, courts have to decide whether to side with freedom or safety. These decisions can have a huge impact on your rights. In 2022 the Supreme Court decided the infamous Dobbs case in which they limited the choice and freedom of a women in favor of the safety and protection of an unborn fetus. While this decision is still being felt around the country and may not be fully resolved, it is a good reminder that the freedom you have today may not exist tomorrow.

Task: You will be divided into groups. There are four (4) stations (tabs) in this activity, you must complete all of the stations and the "Bringing it Home" section to get full credit. Each station will deal with an issue where freedom and safety are at odds. Although all of the cases are very different, they are connected to the government impacting your personal freedom. Use the resources at each station to complete the organizer for each topic. When you have completed each station, finish the last part of this activity by deciding on an issue or topic that needs more freedom and one that needs more safety.

Each tab on this page's menu will direct you to your stations.