LAL #067 — Attorney Brian Festa of We The Patriots USA

<p>"I can't think of many things that are man-made that are more important than the law."</p> <p>Our guest this week is Attorney Brian Festa, the Co-Founder and Vice President of the citizens advocacy group, <a href= "https://wethepatriotsusa.org/">We The Patriots USA</a>. </p> <p>WTPUSA is a nonprofit organization with the express purpose of creating a network "of Patriots to preserve and reclaim our God-given inalienable rights–including but not limited to the rights recorded in the United States Constitution–through education, advocacy, and litigation."</p> <p>While WTPUSA advocates broadly to protect individual freedoms across nearly every cognizable domain—religious, medical, parental, educational, speech, gun ownership, free enterprise, veterans' rights, environmental, and food safety—Festa's most visible ongoing efforts take aim at the State of New York's denial of religious exemptions to its mandate that healthcare workers be vaccinated to maintain employment. </p> <p>As you'll hear, Norm's firm has taken up this fight on behalf of WTPUSA, most recently having its application to stay the policy before the Supreme Court of the United States. </p> <p>This episode, however, explores the philosophical principles at the heart of Festa's advocacy. Norm probes these and gives space for Festa to articulate the "why" that is near and dear: his son. </p> <p>The two volley a discussion that spans natural law and what Festa regards as "human rights", the idea of a "greater good" within the prism of State action, and the sanctity of the First Amendment's recognition of the right to freely exercise religion and to peacefully assemble. </p> <p>The discussion narrows to the Bill of Rights, its status in an era defined by the emerging public health state, and the plight of what Norm commonly regards as a "republic of virtue". </p> <p>Is there a theistic check on the concept of limited government? Did the Framers, "take God out of it?" </p> <p>Perhaps the most intriguing question of the day: Is there an argument that the 9