Freedom of Speech - First Amendment
This bill, wrapped in a veneer of emotional rhetoric and appeal, is a flagrant attempt to stifle freedom of speech and communication. It is a clear infringement on the basic rights of man. These rights are protected (specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights) by the First Amendment to the Constitution, i.e. the freedom of speech amendment.
The bill is very non-specifically worded so that any speech, not just 'bullying' can be interpreted as bullying if it criticizes or disagrees with something another person may have stated.
(a) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
COMMENT:
So if you write about a political candidate and disagree with his or her position, does that mean that they can say that you are coercing, intimidating, harassing, or you've creating emotional distress in them?
Does that mean that criticizing politicians, elected government officials, or anyone for that matter will become not only 'politically incorrect' (not a crime) but 'criminally incorrect' (a CRIME to speak or write your opinion on a matter.
(1) the term ‘communication’ means the electronic transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received;
COMMENT: This means telephone, cell phones, radios, walkie-talkies, CBs (Citizen Band radios), shortwave radios (for all you ham radio operators), fax (plain paper, paper to computer, computer to paper, computer to computer, etc...), e-mail, Twitter, text messages, Face Book, My Space, Western Union telegrams, Tweets, THIS BLOG, and whatever else is developed or invented in the future.
(2) the term ‘electronic means’ means any equipment dependent on electrical power to access an information service, including email, instant messaging, blogs, websites, telephones, and text messages.’
A nation of FREE PEOPLE living under the protection of the United States Constitution must NOT allow such a flagrant attempt at limitation of free speech in the guise of security.
"Just Say No To Censorship!"
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JAMES MADISON --- "There are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."
DAVID BEN-GURION --- "The test of democracy is freedom of criticism."
VOLTAIRE --- "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
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