The Colonists lost many battles at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The tides changed when General Washington and his troops crossed the icy waters of the Delaware River on Christmas Day in 1776 and defeated the Hessian mercenaries in Trenton, NJ the very next day. This victory marked a new beginning for the emerging nation.

Lack of separation of powers

Today many lament the loss of liberty Washington and our Founders sacrificed much to secure. We observe the ravages of a government that has allowed administrative law to circumvent federalism and substitute crony capitalism for equality. As the branches of government that were established as a check and balance system have become nothing more than a ghostly image of their former selves, every new violation of our Constitution defies logic and violates our Rule of Law. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had something to say about the lack of separation of powers. In his closing remarks in the Dept. of Transportation v. Assoc. of American Railroads case, he held:

These concerns merit close consideration by the courts below and by this Court if the case reaches us again. We have too long abrogated our duty to enforce the separation of powers required by our Constitution. We have overseen and sanctioned the growth of an administrative system that concentrates the power to make laws and the power to enforce them in the hands of a vast and unaccountable administrative apparatus that finds no comfortable home in our constitutional structure. The end result may be trains that run on time (although I doubt it), but the cost is to our Constitution and the individual liberty it protects.

Many are justifiably frustrated and angry about the decline of both our system of government and the resulting lack of common sense that seems impossible to stop – often at the hands of those that they have elected to serve them but have little regard for the oaths of office they took. And few realize the legal implications that result as our elected officials dishonor their oaths to preserve and protect our Constitutional Republic from enemies both domestic and foreign. This disregard for their oaths did not escape the eyes of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito who emphasized the importance of one’s oath of office. In essence this promise made to the American people by their representatives creates a type of contract that if abrogated, constitutes a high crime and misdemeanor.

Regardless of many protests, America’s soft coup has continued unabated and the battle to preserve our personal and religious liberties has eroded along with the battle to preserve our financial future.

A modern Battle of Trenton

Trenton, N.J. State House. Photo courtesy Mychal Massie. Used by permission.

However, there is a NJ patriot who will not sit back and lament but is seeking remedy on behalf of all of us. He is launching a new attack on those despotic elitists who would enslave us by ignoring our Constitutional rights and replacing them with the administrative law du jour. And it seems that history may be somehow repeating itself, as this new battle is being launched on the very grounds General Washington once secured for the cause of liberty in 1776 – none other than Trenton, NJ.

So, if you have ever prayed that somehow, someway our government and all the usurpers that have ravaged it would be held accountable for their lawlessness, Chaplain Nick Purpura and his primary supporter, Dwight Kehoe, may be the answer to your prayers. To those sitting in their ivory towers in Trenton and to those sitting on the sidelines wondering if we can ever regain the liberties we lost, these two Jersey boys say: Let the battle for Trenton begin!

During this last week of May that has traditionally been set aside to honor those who have sacrificed all for this nation, Chaplain Purpura will make a historical trek to the land of Trenton where he will hand deliver a seven claim Violation of Civil Rights legal pleading against multiple defendants, including Governor Chris Christie , Pres. Senate Steven M. Sweeney, Assembly   Speaker Vincent Prieto, Superintendent Firearms Division, , Judges , Police Chiefs, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman, , Jane Doe, & John Doe, and others . The claims in the document are supported by 60 Supreme Court cases and decisions that include several challenging questions.

Although the pleading focuses on the many NJ violations of the 2nd Amendment, it also addresses violations of the 5th, 8th, 9th, and the 14th Amendments. Purpura argues that the core question really is: is it permissible for representatives in any branch of government to deviate from, alter, or exceed the powers granted under the Articles and Amendments of the United States Constitution? Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s statement in Bond v. the United States agrees with Mr. Purpura’s concept of the supremacy of federalism, wherein she stated that any law that violates the Constitution is no law at all.

The pleading is prefaced by additional questions that challenge whether or not elected and/or appointed officials in NJ (or any other state by extension) have the authority to violate the Constitution by ignoring federalism and enacting administrative laws that exceed their powers and thereby violate their oaths of office. These claims also extend to justices and judges that have effectively legislated from the bench and set precedents inconsistent with federal laws as well as Supreme Court rulings.

Additionally, Chaplain Purpura comprehensively argues that the draconian gun laws in NJ violate the 14th Amendment by unequally granting privileges guaranteed in our Constitution to all citizens to preferred applicants – creating class distinctions to those who have obtained preferential treatment for unexplained reasons, as well as denying many the justifiable and constitutionally protected right of self defense. Mr. Purpura quoted NJ representative Van Drew, in which he said: “granting a permit to a citizen for self-defense is virtually never done.” The statistics support this. Less than two tenths of one percent of handgun carry permits are granted in the Garden State.

The pleading also includes many instances where law-abiding citizens were victimized by administrative laws perpetrated by those subsequently guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors – chief amongst whom is Governor Chris Christie who recently ordered the Attorney General of New Jersey to file a legal action requesting the U.S. Supreme Court abrogate Article III of the Constitution requesting that the Court not hear any challenges to New Jersey’s handgun-carry restrictions. In other words, Governor Christie attempted to legally deny anyone their right to challenge NJ’s handgun-carry restrictions in court. As a lawyer and a former NJ Attorney General, Governor Christie should be aware of the people’s right to challenge any violation of their civil rights. This is simply an attempt to deny NJ citizens their right of due process. It is nothing less than bully tactics as practiced in totalitarian governments. And to add insult to injury, at a recent town hall meeting the Governor purported to be in favor of the 2nd Amendment but blamed the NJ legislature for passing these bills, which he signed into law and wants the courts to enforce without due process. If misrepresentations and the ability to outright lie with a straight face have become a pre-requisite for the presidency, certainly Gov. Christie qualifies.

Also presented in Purpura’s arguments were well-established instances of civil RICO violations that supported a “wheels of conspiracy” as defined in law.

The introductory questions in the pleading ended with the following statement:

Battles for civil rights are crucial and are more often more crucial than battles against foreign despots. This Petition will define whether federalism prevails or whether ruling class’ political ideology through legislative and judicial activism can erase 230 years of freedom and liberty.

Chaplain Purpura may be the plaintiff in this action but the outcome of his battle will determine more than whether or not NJ will comply with federalism. The outcome of this battle will determine whether or not the land of this brave patriot will remain the home of the free.   On behalf of a grateful nation, God’s speed, Mr. Purpura.

Please send along any questions you may have for Mr. Purpura regarding this action, which may be included within a future interview with him.

Reprinted from The Daily Rant, copyright 2015 Mychal Massie. Used by permission.