Taking First Amendment battle online

The Boston Globe ^ | 12/15/2003 | Hiawatha Bray

[Radix]

Despite the best efforts of Congress and the US Supreme Court, the First Amendment survives -- online.

Last Wednesday, the US Supreme Court upheld the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance reform bill, which deliberately trims citizens' First Amendment rights. Among other things, the law limits the ability of groups like the National Rifle Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the like to broadcast radio and TV ads in the run-up to a federal election.

[autoresponder]

McCain-Feingold/Shays-Meehan attempted to regulate emails and computers and websites originally.

They wanted to say your computer and software costs made you into a political "PAC" and could therefore be regulated and/or banned from political speech ot mention of any candidates during that 60-30 day period.

I see some very serious repercussions from CFR.

Very serious.

"Very"

[nopardons]

That's some big order! They can't see what comes from EVERY SINGLE computer, so they'll have to come up with some other idea.

[Libertina]

Powerful idea, Steve.

[autoresponder]

Before CFR passed I used to send Shays political emails with:

25¢ a copy

FREE SAMPLE

At the top

Internet media........

[nopardons]

Waste of time and money. I used to send Shays and LIEberman, and Dodd E-mail, and just got back stupid form letters.

[CurlyDave]

Internet radio has got to be one of the great new media opportunities.

If we could get the NRA to start up a few stations we would reap great benefits.

The real issue is that people have to want to listen. It has to be entertaining & not heavy-handed.

In a few years, internet TV will be bigger than internet radio. Again a marvelous chance for the NRA.

One "station" can cover the entire world. Programming is an issue, in that the station owner has to provide it, but this could give new acts a chance to start out.

Even congress has allowed media owners to editorialize, and they are going to have to pull the plug on all owners if they want to prevent our side from doing it.

[autoresponder]

If I ever call Shays office I make sure to instruct them to never send me their staff written, Shays signed stock form letters.

[nopardons]

I used to do that too...after the first 10 or so of those offensive nonreply replies. LOL

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[Fledermaus]

I'll spend all the money I want and I'll run ads on radio, TV or in the paper 30-60 days before an election if I want.

Let the toothless FEC come after me. And if the Justice Dept. bothers, I'll just go on camera and say, "we are in a war against terrorism and the Justice Dept. has time to arrest me for freedom of speech"?

I say tell SCOTUS to SHOVE IT and violate these "laws" with impunity.

[Fawnn]

Thanks for the ping!

[Qwinn]

Another bump for post #4. Very very good idea.

Qwinn

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[MarkL]

The problem is that while the Internet IS a powerful tool for communications, the leftists AND the media will work together to blast
"the people" (TM) with whatever spin they want... And let's face it... Those without Internet access (and political interests) far outnumber those who do. If they can get the uninformed to vote, then it's all over.

Mark

[HiJinx]

The NRA already does video news/editorial reports at NRA Live with Wayne LaPierre. Click the link to open their page in a new browser window.

It looks like you need Real Player to get the video to work, but they have a link on the home page to download it.

[blackie]

Freedom of speech ~ Bump!

[international american]

How about the "Constitution Channel"?

[HiJinx]

Ok, I hear ya...ummm...do you consider 12 hours not a rush job? I don't think it's a rush job, not at all, no I don't.

Anyway, here is the 1999 NRA Firearms Fact Card (Click to open in a new window).

And ditto for the 2003 Fact Card.

The 2003 card doesn't really address your question as well as the '99 issue. The numbers are at the end of the document. Oh, and you don't need to be an NRA member to go to their website and browse...they have lots of information and it's all free!

If you're so inclined (insert shameless plug here) check out the NRA Foundation. There are many opportunities for supporting grant programs, as well as some funding available for youth shooting and firearms safety programs. If you know anyone interested in getting Eddie Eagle started in a school or law enforcement program, this is where you start.

[redrock]

A so-called 'Conservative' Congress passed the restriction on the 1st Amendment......

A so-called 'Conservative' President signed it into law......

A so-called 'Conservative' Supreme Court upheld it.......

....and now...it's being left up to us to refuse to obey it.

I think that we are up to the task at hand.

redrock