A ruling by SCOTUS had said that the First Amendment right to assemble applied Only to Federal Law in prohibiting the right by Congress in US Vs Cruikshank. The Ruling:
The first amendment to the Constitution prohibits Congress from abridging 'the right of the people to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.' This, like the other amendments proposed and adopted at the same time, was not intended to limit the powers of the State governments in respect to their own citizens, but to operate upon the National government alone. Barron v. The City of Baltimore, 7 Pet. 250; Lessee of Livingston v. Moore, id. 551; Fox v. Ohio, 5 How. 434; Smith v. Maryland, 18 id. 76; Withers v. Buckley, 20 id. 90; Pervear v. The Commonwealth, 5 Wall. 479; Twitchell v. The Commonwealth, 7 id. 321; Edwards v. Elliott, 21 id. 557. It is now too late to question the correctness of this construction. As was said by the late Chief Justice, in Twitchell v. The Commonwealth, 7 Wall. 325, 'the scope and application of these amendments are no longer subjects of discussion here.' They left the authority of the States just where they found it, and added nothing to the already existing powers of the United States.
According to the ruling the 1st Amendment right to assemble applies only to redress and assembly regarding Federal issues as in the actions of Congress. It gives States the power do do otherwise regarding laws and edicts by the States.
I don't agree with this, as that right precedes the founding as a natural right.
From the NC Constitution:
"Sec. 12. Right of assembly and petition.
The people have a right to assemble together to consult for their common good, to instruct
their representatives, and to apply to the General Assembly for redress of grievances..."
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