The Latest Eminent Domain Fight: Flight 93 Memorial

It probably sounded like a noble cause when Congress instructed the National Parks Service to build a memorial at the crash site for Flight 93. This rural Pennsylvania area will forever be remembered for its role in the September 11th attacks. However, the surrounding land has now become a beacon for the eminent domain debate.

Eminent domain was created as a way for our government to build roads and infrastructure. Since then, the government has abused this power to assist private businesses build shopping malls, high end houses, and anything else they feel will bring in higher taxes.


The government is looking to acquire an additional 500 acres of land including the crash site to build the $55 plus million memorial around the crash site. While the government attributes the use of eminent domain to failed negotiations, the property owners are stating there were not any negotiations.

The Constitution guarantees us the right own property. The government should not have the right to take over anyone's property without their full consent. This is a blatant abuse of our individuals rights. In this case, the original law stated that the land could only be purchased from willing property owners. The law was later amended to allow eminent domain by adding a line in the 2007 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

I think we all would like to see a memorial. However, eminent domain should not be allowed for condemning private property just so the government can build the memorial. More than likely, the case will go the an empathetic judge who sympathizes with the family members and allows the park service to take over the property. This does a grave injustice to our freedoms as property owners.

We need to revolt against eminent domain before the government decides to take all of our property. What will be next? Maybe it will be the government needing our property to payoff the national debt. Who is going to stand up for our rights to keep our land?