When is the First Amendment *Not* a Trump Card?
by bradrees, thetrenches.usJune 13th 2012
Every Wednesday, on Twitter, I engage in the Hump Day Lunch Break Rant (#HDLBR). This week, it is being brought to you by the First Amendment, and technology that only capitalism is able to produce. You’re welcome, Leftists.
“When Is The 1st Amendment *Not* A Trump Card?”
Short answer: When so-called “free speech” runs afoul of the rule of law.
Since this is the #HDLBR, let’s go with the longer answer. For those who haven’t been keeping up, stop now and read the last 7 or 8 posts here at The Trenches. We’ll wait. When you’re done with those, read on.
As you can tell, the efforts to silence dissent continue apace. This tactic of intimidating those who disagree is as old as the very concept of power and authority, and is used on all political sides. But human history contains relatively few examples of this tactic being used by those who advocate Liberty. I’ll even spot you John Adams, but if your list includes George W. Bush for the PATRIOT Act and fails to mention Franklin D. Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, I reserve the right to ridicule you mercilessly.
If I were to list even .10% of history’s totalitarians that used this intimidation/silencing tactic, I’d have to change “rant” to “tome.”
But political ideology is not the point. It’s tangential.
The greater point is subversion. Of laws. Of decency. And of etymology.
Whether you’re turning public spaces into shanty-towns without proper permits,…
…or leaving human waste on sidewalks and cop cars,…
…or making false claims on 911 hotlines, in hopes of traumatizing an individual and their family and possibly causing loss of life,…
…or utilizing technology to ravage secure databases, exposing national security secrets to the full scrutiny of a nation’s enemies,…
…or all of the above, you are *not* engaging in “free speech.” You are endangering people’s lives and health in extra-legal fashion.
As such, you deserve (and should expect) law enforcement’s full attention.
Being exposed for your lawless acts does not constitute a violation of your rights. Rather, it protects the rights of others. Rights that, by your actions, you showed contempt for. Exposing you is actual free speech.
When the law’s hammer comes down on you outlaws (and it’s coming), perhaps you’ll rethink treating the 1st Amendment so cavalierly.
Original Page: http://thetrenches.us/2012/06/when-is-the-first-amendment-not-a-trump-card/
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