Free Speech

Several Anti-Anti-Semitism bills have been passed in various States throughout the Nation - Texas included. These bills fail under the strict scrutiny of my Constitutional Conservativism.

I am not an Anti-Semite. I do; however, believe in freedom of speech and share President Jefferson’s belief “that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions.” A bill criminalizing an action in support of a victim’s Civil Rights and Liberties is a bill I would welcome. A bill that goes past the action and gives the Government authority to ascertain a person’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions to further punish that perpetrator is unwelcome. That is exactly what these kinds of bills do.

This is not a new position of mine. I have always regarded “hate crime” bills as unlawful. A Court cannot reasonably, according to law, determine the “hate crime” portion of an offense. Murder and assault are crimes; hate is not. Why not just severely punish murder and assault in all cases irrespective of a person’s thought and feeling? Are police now operating under guidance to ascertain “hate”? Are prosecutors now endowed with the ability to read the minds of the accused? Should Judges be able to enhance sentencing on the basis of “hate” be that “hate” perceived or actual? This is not a line of reason we should embark.

We should be criminalizing conduct. In recent days, there were barricades (both human and inanimate) erected across shared thoroughfares; this was a crime irrespective of whether they were disallowing Jewish students passage or any other group. There were also assaults. The assailants’ perceived or actual hatred does not determine whether this is a crime or the severity thereof; surely, assault is criminal no matter what the circumstances. The thoughts and feelings behind the crimes are irrelevant to the arrests, prosecutions, and judgments thereof.

As Constitutional Conservatives, we should be holding the line at our manual - the US Constitution - and pressing the issues no further than that. Greg Abbott along with the Republican members of the Texas legislature must do some serious reflection upon this kind of bill and what it means to sit in those chairs. We put you there to hold the line for us.

We must charge into the battle, behind Lady Liberty, in support for and defense of the Constitution. One cannot be both Israel First and America First. One cannot be Black First and America First. One cannot be Palestine First and America First. It’s America First all day long. Hold the line.