Reasons Why The First Amendment Should Be Restricted, Stifled, Or Done Away With

[BS Filter]

Obviously, many people believe speech should be controlled. I don't.

 

[Lockback]

Obviously, many people believe speech should be controlled. I don't.

Nor do I. Let people talk. But verify what they're saying too.

 

[Dekster]

I exercised my first amendment right to vote for everybody to be punished, damn it. I'm a poll anarchist

 

[Unkotare]

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We also need to be responsible when we say stupid crap and when we punch people for what they say, because we are an open carry state. ...

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That's sad.

 

[Zebra]

I clicked on the last two,

 

[PeterPilot]

If one noticed a fire in a theater, wouldn't it be appropriate to notify others?

 

[DGS49]

The only thing that the First Amendment was intended to do was to forbid the government from punishing you for criticizing the government or its actions or its officials.

It was never intended to mean, "You can say anything you want." For CENTURIES, censorship laws were deemed completely compatible with the First Amendment. State and local governments outlawed pornography, public profanity, and other communications and nobody worried about the First Amendment, because it did not apply.

It is only in the Leftist world where we believe that "we" understand better two hundred years after the fact what the writers of the First Amendment intended. And of course that is nonsense. (Same for the 14th Amendment, but that is grist for a whole 'nother thread).

Blame it on the ACLU and its fellow travelers. They screech, "That is CENSORSHIP," and few have the presence of mind to respond, "Yeah. So what?"

 

[PeterPilot]

Yes, it's pretty damn stupid to claim this is the land of the free and home of the brave.

People should go to church and say only what they want you to say. Our leaders are not crooked, they are simply doing the right thing in selling our government off to foreign interests.

 

[Foxfyre]

Nobody likes anyone to disagree with their ideology or worldview. Most people don't like to be criticized because of their religion or nationality or sexual orientation or political views or body type or their weight or their skin color. But most of us agree that nobody should be allowed to scream "pipe bomb" in a packed theater or in a courthouse. We also agree (I'm guessing) that we should never accuse an innocent person of committing a heinous crime with the intent of punishing them for something they didn't do.

Here's what the 1st Amendment to the Bill of Rights says:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

There are some nations that have historically rejected (or currently reject) all or most of the ideas posited in America's 1st Amendment. Communist China and North Korea come to mind. There are other nations that used to embrace personal freedom but have chosen to reject it in recent years. The UK and Germany come to mind. They seem willing to arrest people for disagreeing with the official, government narrative. Their citizens are "free" as long as they do what they're told and don't stray from the government-approved path.

Where do you stand on Freedom Of Speech? Should people be able to express thoughts, ideals, and beliefs that differ from yours or should people be forced to think, embrace, and support only what you think, embrace, and support? Should American citizens be muzzled or punished for speaking out (for or against) anything listed on the following list?

Multiple choice. Choose all that apply.

The First Amendment guarantees that free speech allows us to hold whatever opinions we hold about anything. We are allowed an unalienable right to think whatever we think, believe whatever we believe with impunity and without retaliation by an authoritarian government whether or not anybody agrees with or condones our opinions or beliefs.

Belief and opinion expressed, however, is not the same thing as action however.

The last two poll choices go beyond belief and opinion and engage in illegal behavior. Libel and slander have long been illegal in America and are far too often not prosecuted. Inciting a riot or creating a panic, most especially when people are likely to be harmed by that, has long been illegal in America and should be.

In certain situations even expressing our opinions and beliefs are not protected. A business certainly should not be required to allow employees to denigrate customers by expressing anti-Christian, anti-semitic, anti-gay or whatever opinions/beliefs and any employee who insisted on engaging in such unkindness/insults should be terminated.

Nevertheless the First Amendment is the cornerstone of protection of unalienable rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.