From the Gun Owners of America and into my in-box comes this:
The U.S. House of Representatives will vote, as early as Thursday, on legislation introduced by Texas Congressmen Jeb Hensarling and Ron Paul. This bill (H.R. 1606) will exempt the Internet from regulation under federal “electioneering” laws.
Unless the Hensarling-Paul bill is successful, many major blogs and web sites could be shut down for 60 days before any general election
— and for 30 days prior to any primary — making it much more difficult for groups like Gun Owners of America to criticize anti-gun candidates.How did we arrive at such a dismal state?
You may remember that, a half-decade ago, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) pushed a McCain-Feingold bill which, as enacted, prohibits organizations from engaging in major “broadcast communications” which even mention a candidate in a favorable or unfavorable light within 60 days of a general election (30 days of a primary).
Personally, I’d rather go to jail than allow myself to bow to political censors. I have the right as an American citizen to criticize my leaders and share my viewpoints about them with my fellow citizens. Any attempt to squelch that right will be met with whatever level of active or passive resistance I deem appropriate. America is what it is because of freedom of expression and the right to self-defense. I will not tolerate anyone stomping on either one and I won’t surrender to tyranny quietly, especially when it is masked in fake nobility. Dishonest control mechanisms wrapped up in honest sounding entreaties for fairness are unpalatable and inexcusable.
I hope the House salutes freedom by voting against unconstitutional curbs on free speech.
Ron Paul, a co-author of the above mentioned legislation is one of my heros, by the way. In general, I’m unimpressed by most politicians, and that’s being kind. But Ron Paul is a politician I admire and would be honored to meet. More importantly, I trust him and feel that he has the interests of real Americans in mind when he votes for or against legislation.