Stealing the Declaration of Independence is a serious crime and would result in severe legal consequences, including prison time. In the movie** 'National Treasure,'** the character Ben Gates steals the Declaration of Independence. However, it is important to note that stealing the Declaration of I ndependence is a serious crime in the United States. In reality, if someone were to steal such Here are six thieves who were caught. 1. Sandy Berger. 2. Charles Merrill Mount. Mount, an art historian and portrait painter, was arrested in 1987 for stealing documents from the National Ben determines to steal the ‘Declaration of Independence’ in order to protect it from Ian. Ben meets ‘Abigail Chase’ the curator of the archives when he steals the document. Could You Really Steal the Declaration of Independence? This iconic line from the 2004 film “National Treasure” is uttered by Nicolas Cage’s character, Ben Gates, who intends to steal the historical document in order to protect it from thieves. No. The Constitution is merely the instrument by which those rights were adopted into U.S. law (and the Declaration of Independence doesn't carry any actual legal weight). We go to great lengths to preserve these documents because they represent great watershed events in the country's history. What would happen if someone actually stole the Declaration of Independence? The perpetrator would be charged with reaming and entering, willful damage of federal property, felony theft, and violating numerous other Federal laws, including attempted destruction of Federal property. If convicted, the likely result would be a very lengthy prison sentence and a huge fine. How the Declaration of Independence is kept safe from being destroyed? The document was sealed inside a bronze, bullet-proof glass case at the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. Humidified helium replaced oxygen to prevent further erosion, and the glass was filtered to cut down on light exposure. Timothy Matlack, a revolutionary leader and one of the official scribes of the Declaration of Independence, copied the official document. Then, 56 delegates signed it in iron ink, which is made impossible” to steal the Declaration of Independence. Cooper explained that during the day, the Declaration is protected by “bulletproof glass and plastic laminate, surrounded by armed guards and monitored by camera and a computerized system. Long before Nicholas Cage and his friends stole the Declaration of Independence in their hit film, a man lived out a tale of finding treasure in real life. In 1991, a man shopping at a thrift sale purchased an “ugly painting” for $4 because he liked the frame. It's not treasonous to steal the Declaration of Independence; the Constitution says "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort." National Treasure but only the parts where someone wants to steal, confiscate, forcibly take or deprive somebody else of the Declaration of Independence and this goal is explicitly stated by a character. Within the ship, they find a meerschaum pipe, whose engravings reveal the next clue is on the Declaration of Independence. When Ian reveals himself as a crime boss and suggests stealing the Declaration, a fight ensues, and the group splits. Ben and Riley report Ian's plan to the FBI and Dr. Abigail Chase of the National Archives but are not Ben Gates stole the Declaration of Independence by obtaining Abigail’s fingerprints, bypassing the security system protecting the document, using lemon juice and a hairdryer to remove it from its case, and evading Ian’s group who were also attempting to steal it. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. Twenty years ago, Nicolas Cage’s Benjamin Franklin Gates did the impossible in the movie National Treasure: he stole the Declaration of Independence. Directed by Jon Turtletaub, the adventure Yes, by a Women named Brittney Olney. She stole..for a brief timethe declaration of independence in 1990. She is still in prison today. If someone stole the Declaration of Independence you would have to get the money from your parents to pay for your own insurance. National Treasure: Directed by Jon Turteltaub. With Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean. A historian races to find the legendary Templar Treasure before a team of mercenaries. 18 U.S.C. 668 (THEFT OF MAJOR ARTWORK) – “A person who steals or obtains by fraud from the care, custody, or control of a ‘museum’ any ‘object of cultural heritage’ shall be fined [up to $250,000], imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.” 18 U.S.C. §668 (b) (1).
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