The Framers Did Not Know From 3D-Printed Guns. So How Can They Be Covered by the Second Amendment?
A former congressman suggests that homemade plastic guns can be banned because they did not exist in 1791.
Free Speech
In Defense of Mark Zuckerberg Letting Holocaust Deniers Use Facebook
Silencing hate isn't the same thing as squelching it.
Florida Couple Gets to Keep Home's 'Starry' Paint Job; Mayor Must Publicly Apologize for $10,000 Fine
In a settlement reached Tuesday night, two residents of Mount Dora, Florida, will receive $15,000 and permission to keep their Van Gogh-inspired paint job.
When Code Is Speech, Tech Like 3D-Printed Guns Sees Greater Protection from Censorship
Gun owners can now enjoy First and Second Amendment safeguards.
Former President Obama Criticizes Leftist Shutdown Culture
You can't make the world a better place, he says, if you silence "those who aren't like you because they are white or they are male."
Judge Rescinds His Order That Had Required L.A. Times to Alter Story
The Times had published material from a plea agreement that was supposed to be sealed, but had been erroneously released by the court.
Should This Obnoxious Drunk Be Punished for His Political Views?
That's what Illinois prosecutors are trying to do by charging Timothy Trybus with hate crimes for objecting to a woman's Puerto Rican flag shirt.
"Judge Orders LA Times to Alter Story About Glendale Cop"
A brewing First Amendment controversy, triggered by newspaper's publishing information about a plea agreement in the policeman's prosecution -- the agreement was intended to be sealed, but was inadvertently briefly released unsealed on the docket.
Stormy Daniels Was Arrested Because of a Terrible Law That Threatens Free Expression
When you give law enforcement a tool that can be used to target someone who has unpopular views, they will use it.
Pepe the Frog Meets the Copyright Cops
When alt-right activists adopted this amphibian as their own, were they stealing a cartoonist's property or exercising free speech?
Religious Leader Demands Suppression of "Blasphemous" Plays
So report Czech media.
Kyle Kashuv, Parkland Survivor Turned Conservative Activist, on Gun Rights and Free Speech
"I get a lot of death threats, I don't even think I notice them anymore."
Yes, 'Hate Groups' Can Hold Meetings in Libraries, Too
The American Library Association is facing criticism for reaffirming First Amendment rights.
Citing 'Public Safety,' University of Kansas Removes Flag Artwork That Made Republicans Upset
"This display has generated public safety concerns for our campus community."
Judge Kavanaugh and Justice Kennedy's Free Speech Legacy
Justice Kennedy was the most speech-protective justice on a speech-protective court. What happens to free speech once he is replaced?
First Circuit Holds Most Anti-Libel Injunctions Are Unconstitutional
Federal and state courts are divided on whether such injunctions are constitutional, and the U.S. Supreme Court has not weighed in.
Lawyers Say Michelle Carter Had a First Amendment Right to Tell Her Boyfriend to Kill Himself. They're Right.
"Carter's words encouraging Roy's suicide, however distasteful to this Court, were protected speech."
College Football Player Who Lost Scholarship Over YouTube Videos Can Sue School, Court Rules
Donald De La Haye says the University of Central Florida violated his First Amendment rights.
Owen Wilson Got Fat! And More Fake News That Shouldn't Be Regulated
We headed to the Venice Beach boardwalk to test the bullshit detectors of passersby.
The Government Will Allow Cody Wilson's Defense Distributed to Distribute Gun-Making Software
Second Amendment superlawyer Alan Gura doesn't think the settlement means the Trump administration are across-the-board gun rights defenders.
Brett Kavanaugh's Discouraging Record on the First Amendment and 'Commercial Speech'
Where does Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh stand on the First Amendment?
Tourist Gets 8 Years in Egyptian Prison for Facebook Video Blasting 'Son of a Bitch' Country
Egypt has no freedom of speech.
Is Membership in a Conservation Organization Proof of Criminal Intent to Harm Cattle?
Prosecutors in southern Utah have argued that they can prove that the closing of a corral gate was the crime of attempted wanton destruction of livestock by pointing to a defendant's membership in a conservation organization. Today I argue to the Utah Court of Appeals that it should review the First Amendment implications of the prosecutors' maneuver.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules for Conservative Professor Who Wrote Controversial Blog Post
Marquette is ordered to reinstate John McAdams.
A Gospel Group Sings Praises After Facebook Restores a Music Video It Deemed 'Political'
Facebook apologizes to Zion's Joy! after treating a music video like a campaign ad.
Marquette University "Breached Its Contract with Dr. McAdams When It Suspended Him for Engaging in Activity Protected by the Contract's Guarantee of Academic Freedom"
So holds this morning's important Wisconsin Supreme Court decision, by a 4-2 vote.
Europe Delays Plan to Destroy the Internet With Terrible Copyright Enforcement Proposal
Lawmakers resist plan that would likely lead to widespread censorship of online media sharing.
Heterodox Academy Fights For Intellectual Freedom and Diversity Among Professors: Podcast
Deb Mashek explains why intellectual diversity can't be optional if we're serious about higher education.
Another Justice Like Gorsuch, Please
Contrary to what his critics say, this "narrow-minded elitist" stands up for the little guy.
Ignore the Salaciousness of the Ali Watkins Affair. The Real Story Is Feds Spying on a New York Times Reporter.
Trump extends Obama's war on leakers, jeopardizing a free press.
Stossel: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
What we should celebrate on Independence Day.
The California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Bad Yelp Reviews
The California Supreme Court rules that Yelp cannot be forced to remove negative reviews of a business.
Charlottesville White Nationalist Sues 'To Bring Civility Back,' Wins $5 in Damages From Woman Who Cursed Him Out
A woman screamed "fuck you" and "fuck you, asshole," at the white nationalist, in addition to calling him a "murderer" and a "crybaby."
Cops Arrested a Black Man. He Called Them Nazis, So He Was Charged With a Hate Crime.
"This is not what the hate crime statute was for. This is criminalizing pure speech, and that violates the First Amendment."
Supreme Court Trying Again on the First Amendment Retaliatory Arrest Question
The question that the Court didn't resolve in Lozman v. Riviera-Beach is back, in another case on which the Supreme Court just granted review.
The Janus Dissent's Odd Underreading of Government Employee Speech Rights
"If an employee's speech is about, in, and directed to the workplace, she has no 'possibility of a First Amendment claim,'" say the dissenters -- but that's not what the First Amendment caselaw says.
How a New SCOTUS Ruling on Abortion Could Permanently Alter Economic Regulation
"The majority's view, if taken literally, could radically change prior law," warn the Court's liberal justices.
The Limited Effects of the Supreme Court's Janus Decision
States that want to allow public sector unions, and avoid "free-rider" problems, should still be able to do that -- just by paying unions directly, rather than via compelled agency fees.
Forget Net Neutrality: The E.U. Seems Determined to Destroy the Internet
A poorly written proposal to expand copyright claims could potentially decimate online sharing of information.
NIFLA v. Becerra and Speech Compulsions
Today's Supreme Court decision adds to the law -- and the uncertainty -- about when the First Amendment bans the government from requiring speech.
Will the ACLU Defend Controversial Speech? Ira Glasser, Wendy Kaminer, Nadine Strossen React to the Memo
President David Cole says guidelines "are explicitly designed to help affiliates and national staff think through various factors in case selection decisions."
Wendy Kaminer Replies on the ACLU and Free Speech
David Cole and Nadine Strossen had responded to Kaminer's op-ed on this; Kaminer responds in turn.
After Gay Wedding Cake Ruling, Supreme Court Punts Floral Arrangements Case
Washington State told to revisit ruling against Arlene's Flowers.
ACLU's David Cole Responds About ACLU and the Freedom of Speech [UPDATED with comments from former ACLU leaders Nadine Strossen and Ira Glasser] [FURTHER UPDATED with link to Kaminer's reply]
Is the ACLU becoming less committed to protecting free speech, especially speech that some view as "imped[ing] progress toward equality"?
Leaked Internal Memo Reveals the ACLU Is Wavering on Free Speech
"Our defense of speech may have a greater or lesser harmful impact on the equality and justice work to which we are also committed."
This Libertarian Community Organizer Wants To 'Free the People': Podcast
Matt Kibbe explains why "beer is freedom," and talks about his new documentary series with Rep. Thomas Massie, Off the Grid.
