Measure to Legalize Gays' Murder May Move Forward

[Jazzy]

At some point this spring, it appears that Californians will be asked to sign a petition legalizing the murder of gay people. And it will be perfectly legit. As the Sacramento Bee reports, a lawyer named Matt McLaughlin has filed the proper paperwork, along with his $200 fee, to propose a state initiative called the Sodomite Suppression Act. Both the Bee and the San Francisco Chronicle report that Attorney General Kamala Harris has little choice but to allow it to proceed to the signature-gathering phase. Harris hasn't commented on whether she will try to find a legal way out, but previous cases suggest she won't be able to do so on free-speech grounds.

Assuming it does make it to the petition phase, the measure would almost certainly die a quick death by failing to get the 365,000 signatures needed to move forward. But in the meantime, it's causing a debate not only about free speech but about whether the state must find a way to weed out crazy, clearly illegal initiative proposals. McLaughlin, meanwhile, is the subject of a petition himself—launched by critics to have him disbarred. “It’s an interesting discussion about free speech, and I get that,” says its creator. “But this is a lawyer, and he’s advocating for murder.”

Source

Thoughts?

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

A lunatic no doubt. But sure he should have the right to pass around this kind of hate.

 

[Jazzy]

How exactly is it free speech to encourage murder?

 

[mrldii]

This is all over my local news and I'm just not understanding authorities' inability to do anything and how "Oh, well...he followed the proper procedures, so we've GOT to let it go to an initiative."

No, "we" don't. Despite others' ignorance, there are legislated limits on individual's Freedom of Speech, as indicated by the common-knowledge 'You can't yell 'FIRE!' in a crowded movie theater' when there is no fire. Also, murder/attempted murder is illegal, except in cases of self-defense. To boot, California has a statute covering "hate crimes"...acts (and words) of violence targeting one segment of society.

That's just off the top of my head; an attorney in good standing with California's State Bar can and will keep it off the ballot, just on those grounds, alone...and probably will find a baker's dozen MORE statutes it violates.

Must have been a slow news day, with no gang drive-by murders in Northern California to provide "Film Footage at 11!!!"

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

How exactly is it free speech to encourage murder?

Free speech comes in many forms. If we are still a decent people we will reject and ignore the hate coming from this person. I hate the idea of him saying such things but he should have every right to say it. Either we really believe in free speech or we do not.
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This is all over my local news and I'm just not understanding authorities' inability to do anything and how "Oh, well...he followed the proper procedures, so we've GOT to let it go to an initiative."

No, "we" don't.  Despite others' ignorance, there are legislated limits on individual's Freedom of Speech, as indicated by the common-knowledge 'You can't yell 'FIRE!' in a crowded movie theater' when there is no fire.  Also, murder/attempted murder is illegal, except in cases of self-defense.  To boot, California has a statute covering "hate crimes"...acts (and words) of violence targeting one segment of society.

That's just off the top of my head;  an attorney in good standing with California's State Bar can and will keep it off the ballot, just on those grounds, alone...and probably will find a baker's dozen MORE statutes it violates.

Must have been a slow news day, with no gang drive-by murders in Northern California to provide "Film Footage at 11!!!"

And that is why I call it Kalifornia. 

God I hate the lame yelling fire in a movie theater to try and limit what people say.

 

[mrldii]

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And that is why I call it Kalifornia. 

God I hate the lame yelling fire in a movie theater to try and limit what people say.

By now, we're all well aware how much you hate the SCOTUS' rulings on what is and is not Constitutional;  oh, well...I'm confident the SCOTUS will continue to make rulings with or without your seal of approval.



That's *clever* how you call it "Kalifornia"...you should trademark/copyright it and make a movie or cable show before someone else steals your innovation.

 

[Dee]

Free speech is one thing, but attempting to pass a law that gives the government or some other authority the power to kill people for not committing--what I see--to be a crime is heinous.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

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And that is why I call it Kalifornia. 

God I hate the lame yelling fire in a movie theater to try and limit what people say.

By now, we're all well aware how much you hate the SCOTUS' rulings on what is and is not Constitutional;  oh, well...I'm confident the SCOTUS will continue to make rulings with or without your seal of approval.



That's *clever* how you call it "Kalifornia"...you should trademark/copyright it and make a movie or cable show before someone else steals your innovation.