I am a firm believer of the statement "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it".
At the risk of alienating some here who have had strong feelings about certain kinds of speech that arose after the Charlie Kirk assassination, I would like to have a debate about how far "Free Speech" should be allowed to go.
We all know the stories about "you can't shout fire in a crowded theater" as an example that there are limits on Free Speech. The thing is, there is nothing stopping you from doing so. There are no laws saying "you can't shout 'fire' in a crowded theater". What actually happens is a person is arrested for inciting a panic and causing injury or damage. If no one panics, and no damage or injury occurs, the person who shouted 'fire' is rarely, if ever, arrested.
Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk I have been seeing more and more people calling for the firing, arrest, or outright murder of those who "celebrate" his death. While repulsive, why does their comments not fall under "free speech"? They are not necessarily calling for his death, just declaring that they feel the world is 'better' for it having happened.
People are losing their jobs, their livelihoods, having their families threatened, by those who normally state they support our Rights. Aren't they permitted their opinions as much as we are permitted ours?
I feel we are on the cusp of that slippery slope we always talk about for 2A Rights, but for the 1st A. Are we not just trying to silence those we disagree with?
*note: those who actively call for the assassination of others, or promote violence, should be called out and investigated. But what I've been seeing is people who are happy to see a Conservative silenced. Is that any different than when Conservatives "celebrate" the death or financial ruin of ... say: a trans person, or abortion provider, or communist?
**mods: if this is the wrong forum please move this to the correct location. Thank you.
At the risk of alienating some here who have had strong feelings about certain kinds of speech that arose after the Charlie Kirk assassination, I would like to have a debate about how far "Free Speech" should be allowed to go.
We all know the stories about "you can't shout fire in a crowded theater" as an example that there are limits on Free Speech. The thing is, there is nothing stopping you from doing so. There are no laws saying "you can't shout 'fire' in a crowded theater". What actually happens is a person is arrested for inciting a panic and causing injury or damage. If no one panics, and no damage or injury occurs, the person who shouted 'fire' is rarely, if ever, arrested.
Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk I have been seeing more and more people calling for the firing, arrest, or outright murder of those who "celebrate" his death. While repulsive, why does their comments not fall under "free speech"? They are not necessarily calling for his death, just declaring that they feel the world is 'better' for it having happened.
People are losing their jobs, their livelihoods, having their families threatened, by those who normally state they support our Rights. Aren't they permitted their opinions as much as we are permitted ours?
I feel we are on the cusp of that slippery slope we always talk about for 2A Rights, but for the 1st A. Are we not just trying to silence those we disagree with?
*note: those who actively call for the assassination of others, or promote violence, should be called out and investigated. But what I've been seeing is people who are happy to see a Conservative silenced. Is that any different than when Conservatives "celebrate" the death or financial ruin of ... say: a trans person, or abortion provider, or communist?
**mods: if this is the wrong forum please move this to the correct location. Thank you.