Even After Tucson, Don’t Criminalize More Speech

[Better Believe It]

Even After Tucson, Don’t Criminalize More Speech
By Matthew Rothschild
Editor of The Progressive
January 11, 2011

In the wake of the horrific rampage in Tucson, a lot of people are looking for ways to lower the hatefulness of the political rhetoric.

But one way not to go is to legislate more restrictions on free speech.

The Supreme Court recognized, decades ago, that it was more important to allow “uninhibited, robust, and wide-open” political debate than to outlaw a casual death wish, even against the President.

The government already has enough power to round people up. It doesn’t need more.

Yes, Sarah Palin should be held accountable for her grotesquely irresponsible language, and so should others like her.

But they should be held accountable by a public shunning, not by imprisonment.

Please read the full article at:

http://www.progressive.org/wx011111.html

[Kali]

1. slippery slopes and all that

gotta agree, the dialog about this is good - pressure to knock it off coming from the "audience" and participants is good. Regulation? not so much.

[nc4bo]

2. There needs to be counterbalance and condemnation from the peers

of those who abuse the right to free speech. We definitely don't need any more of our rights taken away.

A world full of bullies is not going to solve the problem.

Don't know what I'm trying to say here.........Words of consequences.

[damntexdem]

3. When does free speech become incitement to violence?

Unclear, huh?

But assault weapons and extended magazines CAN be outlawed.

[Broderick]

4. Extended magazine?

I think that is what saved more people from what I hear. I heard a person on the radio said that a glock holds 20 bullets chambered. The original clip design is very very quick to change out whereas the extended clip gave people time to tackle him. I don't know if that is all true.

[ProSense]

5. Big straw man

Who is officially advocating criminalizing speech and impprisoning Palin?

[WingDinger]

6. The only reason for legistlating it, is cuz we are too chicken to Dixie chick them.