Wallbuilders founder David Barton has officially announced his support for a convention of states. The historian, who contemplated a Senate bid late last year, has spoken of the subject in the abstract before. But now that a convention is growing increasingly possible, Barton is “confident that this is the correct course of action.”
Though a convention of states has not been held since the nation’s founding, it has grown increasingly popular as a response to what many see as overreach from the federal government. Through Article V of the U.S. Constitution, states can propose amendments to the Constitution if two-thirds of states submit applications for such a convention. In December, nearly 100 state lawmakers gathered at Mount Vernon, Va., to discuss the process. On Tuesday, the Georgia state Senate became the first state legislative body to pass the current “constitution of states” application by a vote of 37-17.
David Barton Announces Support for a Convention of States
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“We have not come to this conclusion lightly,” Barton and “Wallbuilders Live” co-host Rick Green said in a letter to Glenn Beck Monday. “Like many of our conservative friends, we initially avoided this constitutionally-specified process due to a fear of what might occur, or what could happen. But after years of research and studying the founders’ original intent for this amendment process — and after years of witnessing an unconstitutional reshaping of our federal government — we are both confident that this is the correct course of action.”
Barton and Green said the Constitution “specifically furnishes each part of government ‘with constitutional arms’ for its own ‘effectual powers of self-defense.’”
“One such arm of self-defense that the Constitution gives to the states is an Article V Convention of States,” they wrote. “For states to refuse to use this tool would be like going into a street fight, but refusing to use one of your biggest and most effective weapons. And it is illogical to consider the use of any constitutional provision as a threat to the Constitution. It makes as much sense as violating the free-market system to save it, or breaking health care to fix it.”
Speaking about the letter on his radio program Wednesday, Beck said a convention of states “must happen.”
He acknowledged that he was wary of the process before, but, having done his homework, now stands by figures like Mark Levin and Barton who are advocating the convention.
“This was why Article V of the Constitution was written,” Beck said. “[The Founding Fathers] knew there would come a time where you’ve used every other lever, and [those in Washington] will not cede their power.”
Beck called a convention of states “your right and your responsibility.”

David Barton voices support of Convention of States in letter


Wallbuilders Founder David Barton has authored a letter expressing his support for a Convention of States. Alongside his co-host on Wallbuilders Live Rick Green, Barton says he has spent years researching a Convention of States and is urging Americans to support this legislative effort to limit the scope of the federal government.
He writes:
Fellow Patriots,
It is exciting to see such a renewed interest in basic constitutional principles. Liberty lovers across America are studying their past in order to find ways to stop our federal government’s explosive growth and sprint towards socialism.
Fortunately, our Founding Fathers, with their thorough understanding of human nature, created constitutional means to restrain the federal government when it exceeded its jurisdiction. One specific means was the Constitution’s Article V amendment process by means of a Convention of the States. This is a proper solution.
We have not come to this conclusion lightly. Like many of our conservative friends, we initially avoided this constitutionally-specified process due to a fear of what might occur, or what could happen. But after years of research and studying the Founders’ original intent for this amendment process — and after years of witnessing an unconstitutional reshaping of our federal government — we are both confident that this is the correct course of action.
The Federalist Papers declare that the Constitution specifically furnishes each part of government “with constitutional arms” for its own “effectual powers of self-defense.” One such arm of self-defense that the Constitution gives to the states is an Article V Convention of States. For states to refuse to use this tool would be like going into a street fight, but refusing to use one of your biggest and most effective weapons. And it is illogical to consider the use of any constitutional provision as a threat to the Constitution. It makes as much sense as violating the free-market system to save it, or breaking health care to fix it.
We urge you to support all of the Constitution, and thus the efforts of the Convention of States to pass their extremely well-thought-out and strategic legislation in your home state and join us in a call to restore our constitutional republic.
God Bless,
David Barton
Founder and President, WallBuilders
Rick Green
Co-host, WallBuilders Live!
Author, The Citizen Guide to Our Constitution
On radio this morning, Glenn reacted to David’s decision to lend his support to the growing push for an Article V Convention of States:
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