Whereas the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution plainly 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 & to petition the government for a redress of grievances”.

Whereas governors, mayors and other public officials in authority at both state and federal levels, including President Trump, have ordered and/or mandated that restaurants, bars, sports arenas and other venues where large groups of people gather, indefinitely shut their doors for fear of the Coronavirus or COVID-19.

Whereas employees of the aforementioned facilities face crippling financial devastation due to the ordered suspensions and closures of their businesses.

Whereas certain governors and other state and local officials are reportedly threatening arrests of anyone entering a house of worship when such attendance numbers exceed an arbitrary number imposed by a particular government entity.

Whereas the activation of such threats necessarily entail the use of state, county or local police to enforce such measures, thus curtailing civil liberties and creating a public portrait of a literal police state.

Whereas, based on statements made by certain federal and state officials, public perceptions exist of veiled threats of arrests and incarcerations of individuals who may be viewed in violation of “social distancing” requests, meaning individuals seen in groups greater than 10 people and/or seen in proximity of being less than six feet apart from other individuals.

Whereas those “violating” such “social distancing” requests would necessarily entail law enforcement observation to determine measurements and thus make such determinations whether to arrest such persons deemed to be not in compliance.

Whereas such measures arguably not only create a completely unnecessary use of policing resources but enforce the perception of an American police state.

Whereas several California counties and certain other jurisdictions across America are enacting and threatening measures forbidding the departure of one's premises for any reason, demonstrating a police state.

Whereas California's Gov. Newsom has stated his openness to declare martial law, essentially putting the state's military on its streets, unnecessarily creating mass unrest and visions of certain leaders' actions during a particular war 75-80 years ago.

Whereas at least in one jurisdiction (the state of Kentucky) law enforcement officials have surrounded a home to prevent a particular individual from leaving at any time, arguably demonstrating a police state.

Whereas various credible reports, including those from the Centers for Disease Control & National Institute of Health, have documented that, by lopsided numbers, far more individuals have suffered and died from the flu in contrast to those who have contracted the Coronavirus or COVID 19.

Whereas the 2009-2010 H1N1 epidemic (AKA swine flu), unlike the current Coronavirus (COVID 19), did not result in mass media hysteria, public fear and federal and state mandates unilaterally shutting down businesses and industries in the name of protecting the public, actions unnecessarily plaguing the nation today.

Whereas previous other U.S, pandemics (SARS, MERS, Ebola) have had similar responses as H1N1, including no mass state and nationwide shutdowns, panic and onerous restrictions of movement and physical contact.

Whereas, according to the best reports on the Coronavirus or COVID 19, symptoms primarily include fever, cough and shortness of breath, last roughly two weeks and are mild for most people except for the elderly and those with a significant history of illnesses.

Whereas the severely adverse actions taken against businesses, the American people and the American way of life for a condition that will ultimately pass and is similar in nature to the traditional flu are greatly frightening to those of us, who, though on the outside, see such austere measures as very unnecessary.

Whereas the last portion of the First Amendment entitles the American people to petition their government with a redress of their grievances, meaning those in positions of leadership with our government are entitled to hear the various concerns of loss of personal and constitutional and respond accordingly without fear of punishment, retribution or reprisal.

Whereas the right to petition government officials can be traced far beyond the founding of America, all the way back to 1215 and the Magna Carta.

Whereas the signers of this petition are gravely concerned that our civil liberties and constitutional rights are being and will continue to be shredded in the name of protection of a virus with arguably far fewer casualties than the flu and other pandemics that have in the past or currently plague the nation.

Whereas the signers of this petition fear partial or total loss of liberty, including but not limited to being able to freely move about and conduct one's personal business without police surveillance.

Whereas the fear of a total loss of the American way of life becomes very real, all in the name of a condition with casualties far, far fewer than the typical traditional flu.

We the American People request a meeting with our government leaders, which may include, but are not limited to, President Trump, Vice-President Pence or any close aides with the authority to speak on behalf of the president or vice president, and provide assurances and reassurances that Washington and the respective states of the United States of America will not commit acts to harm, deprive or remove our civil liberties and will work expeditiously to restore the American way of life as best as possible and will periodically advise us of the actions intended to be taken to bring us to that end. Said meeting can be at a mutually agreeable time and date and take place online for the benefit of all signers of this petition.