If you had some neighbors who you suspected to be communists, would you notify the FBI?

Question

The Alien Registration Act (also known as the Smith Act) was passed by Congress on 29th June, 1940, made it illegal for anyone in the United States to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government.

Communism inherently advocates the revolutionary overthrow of existing government. If you had some neighbors who you saw or heard engaging in suspected communist meetings/plots, would you do your civic duty and notify the proper autorities?

Answer 1

It wouldn't hurt to talk to the FBI and they could decide if it is illegal.

Answer 2

If you had some neighbors who you suspected to be christian, would you notify the FBI?
The Alien Registration Act (also known as the Smith Act) was passed by Congress on 29th June, 1940, made it illegal for anyone in the United States to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government.

Christianity inherently advocates the revolutionary overthrow of existing government. If you had some neighbors who you saw or heard engaging in suspected christian meetings/plots, would you do your civic duty and notify the proper autorities?

or...

If you had some neighbors who you suspected to be homosexuals, would you notify the FBI?
The Alien Registration Act (also known as the Smith Act) was passed by Congress on 29th June, 1940, made it illegal for anyone in the United States to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government.

Homosexuality inherently advocates the revolutionary overthrow of existing government. If you had some neighbors who you saw or heard engaging in suspected homosexual meetings/plots, would you do your civic duty and notify the proper autorities?

Answer 3

communism is a political system as is socialism and democracy etc, you assume that communism inherently advocates the overthrowing of an existing government but have no evidence to substantiate your claim. what if your neighbors advocated anarchy or socialism or any other form or system of government , you assume it is only communists that wish to overthrow an existing system/government- what of the militia, ultra right wing groups-fascists, neo Nazi's and the like- Timothy McVeigh was no communist, the perpetrators of 9/11 where no communists, if your neighbors are simply people who advocate a different or alternative thought system to your own then who are you to judge them, if they on the other hand incite riots, hand out anti government literature, advocate the death of the president then sure you should alert the authorities, but to punish them for simply thinking differently well that's kind of Orwellian- that is you being the thought police and that probably violates the first amendment anyway.

Answer 4

You've got to be kidding!

It is NOT illegal to be a Communist. (Have you read the First Amendment lately???) Communism does not "inherently advocate the revolutionary overthrow of the existing gov't.". (Besides, didn't you read that answer about an hour ago that said Jefferson advocated a revolution every few years???)

To be a "Communist" means to believe in living "communally". Do you know who used to live the most perfect form of that? Catholic nuns!!! They "owned" nothing. If you brought cookies for your favorite nun, you had to bring enough for the whole convent. When a nun died, her habit (clothing) was used again for another member of the convent. Some sisters taught school, others worked in the convent--all shared equally in the food, clothing, warmth of the household. Does that sound threatening??

Are you channeling McCarthy??

Answer 5

The Alien Registration Act only applies to Aliens. Us citizens can support communism all we like! So long as we're okay with being j-holes.

Answer 6

Got very curious with this question, because my undersatnding was that there was a communist party in the US. Anyway, did a google search and came up with the following:

http://www.cpusa.org/

Seems like communism is not banned in the US. The law stated in the Question prohibits new immigrants from entering the US if they were a communist.

If the KKK is allowed in your neighborhood, then communists are allowed in the neighborhoods as well.

Answer 7

It depends on a lot of things, for one, if I had knowledge of an actual plot that was in place to attempt to overthrow the government,then I would. If they just had a belief that the government should be overthrown , but were not acting on those convictions, I suppose I would leave them alone. If they were going on yahoo everyday and saying that the pres should be killed, I would report that behavior to the national security guys. I have reported several people to them that do just that.

Answer 8

Communisim does not inherently advocate the overthrow of the USA.

If i suspected my neighbors were advocating such an overthrow, I would report them. I do not believe that being communist is sufficient reason to suspect their desire to overthrow the USA

Answer 9

This whole "Turn in your Neighbor" thing rings strongly of Hitler.

When was the last time a Communist threatened you in any way?

That was the Last big fear, we have moved on.

Sorry, but overthrowing our current Government doesn't deeply offend me, Id like to see this done lawfully, but quite honestly, I would really like to see these clowns all go back where they came from and inflict their damage locally.

If that makes me a "communist" in your view........oh well.

This country has been programmed like a "moonie"........lots of us would be better served if these individuals just bothered people in airports with flowers and promises of eternal peace.

What this Adminstration is pushing is way more sinister.

Answer 10

If somebody reported me to the FBI for being a communist, I would laugh out loud. Like this country doesn't have enough problems, without the secret police cracking down on people working for a better social and economic system than the one we have now.

Answer 11

The FBI can not arrest you for being a communist. Freedom of expression and free speech.