Since the horrific Boston Marathon bombings last week, the United States Constitution seems to have taken more criticism than Islamic jihadists. Instead of questioning why two Islamic terrorists would choose to wreak their armed havoc in a state with near-record low gun ownership and some of the nation’s strictest gun control laws, many of our so-called leaders are calling for us to abandon the Constitution.

Take New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, for example. Yesterday, he called on the nation to change its laws and “interpretation” of the Constitution so that we can prevent the type of attacks experienced in Boston:

[W]e live in a complex world where you’re going to have to have a level of security greater than you did back in the olden days, if you will. And our laws and our interpretation of the Constitution, I think, have to change.

This frightening reaction isn’t only restricted to Bloomberg. Increasingly, members of the GOP have asserted that the Constitution shouldn’t apply to the bombing suspect who was captured alive. Both John McCain and Lindsey Graham have argued that the bomber – a US citizen – should be treated as an enemy combatant. In other words, the Bill of Rights should not apply.

Most Americans have also heard that, even though the Obama Administration has decided to try the alleged bomber in a civilian court, that he has not been Mirandized or afforded access to an attorney given the special circumstances of the case.

Now, no one in his or her right mind would dare have any sympathy for the alleged bomber given what happened in Boston. He should be subjected to a vigorous prosecution and, if found guilty, be executed for his horrendous crimes.

But the fact that the federal government seems to now think it can, based upon its own unilateral classification, strip away all constitutional protections afforded to US citizens for the last 220-plus years should disturb any person concerned with liberty.

This isn’t the first time that critics of increasing federal power have raised the alarm. Just last month, Senator Rand Paul filibustered President Obama’s proposed CIA nominee over the Administration’s suggestion that the president has the authority to kill US citizens in America with armed drones. Given this thermal image of the bombing suspect from a police drone, it doesn’t seem that that day may be too far off:

Also alarming is how multiple federal and state agencies handled the search for the 19 year-old bombing suspect. The following videos show police demanding entry to residences in Massachusetts, presumably without warrants, forcing residents to exit their homes, and taking other actions that one would typically only see in a police state:

Here’s additional footage taken by another Watertown resident:

Terrorism is undeniably a major threat to the United States. But the rush of many within our ruling class to jettison our fundamental rights in exchange for a little perceived security poses a far greater threat to our future.

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“Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.” General John Stark, 1809 (Revolutionary War hero, origin of New Hampshire’s state motto).

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin, 1775