Is the first amendment in danger?

Question

If the senate bill S.1105 and the house bill H.R 1592 passed would this mean the elimination of the first amendment?

These bills would classify any literature,slur,public comment to be considerd a hate crime. This would make the Bible an illegal book. Also imprison preachers for talking against homosexuality.

Answer 1

the constitution can be changed so even if it did contradict something in the constitution the constitution could just change to fit those guidelines ... however since all laws have to be constitutionally right the bills wont pass


either way the constitution will still be a valid document

Answer 2

You think a bill to help fund the prosecution of hate crimes is the end of our 1st amendment rights? Please explain.

EDIT: every single thing you just said in your additional details is a complete and utter fabrication. it is in fact expressly stated:

SEC. 8. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. (H.R. 1592)

Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the free speech or free exercise clauses of, the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Passed the House of Representatives May 3, 2007.

and

SEC. 9. SEVERABILITY. (S. 1105)

If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions of such to any person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.

Complete text of bills:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.1105:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1592

Answer 3

No legislation can eliminate the First Amendment. Only another amendment to the Constitution can change any part of the Constitution, including the amendments.

People may feel that certain laws limit their freedoms, but it is not necessarily the case.

"Free speech is a restraint on the government, not incitement to the citizen." - Dean Acheson.

Answer 4

No, the first amendment doesn't give you the right to torture and kill people in the name of bigotry and intolerance, and that's the only "right" the bills address.

Everything you said in your additional details is a myth dreamed up by Christian extremists in an attempt to kill the bills. The bills criminalize hate-crime VIOLENCE, not speech. If you think you should have a right to torture and murder anyone whose ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation is different from yours, you're as sadly misguided as the demented extremists who invented that myth.

Answer 5

I wonder - there was a man here in Houston, who wanted to get some money, so he trashed his own home and spray painted the walls and such with racial slurs - then he filed a claim with his insurance and reported the "crime" to the police - could he be charged in a hate crime against himself?

Answer 6

Too many people have an interest in First Amendment rights. It cannot be eliminated by bills and laws.

Answer 7

I would not even begin to hazard a guess as to whether or not either piece of legislation you mention might violate the 1st Amendment, ....... not until I knew how the legislation reads. Why don't you provide us a link in order for us to read the legislation?

Answer 8

How could it be in danger. It's just a useless propaganda tool to make people think they actually have free speech.

Answer 9

okay, this is a dumb question I know, but what is our first amendment?

Is that the right to bear arms or freedome of speech, Im not sure?

But, I think the goverment is taking away alot of our rights so I guess that means they are all in danger. But then again, they are taking our rights away because people are abusing them. Its like grounding the kids for TV but much worse.

Answer 10

No, the constitution dominates over the senate.