I’m Sorry, Opinions Are Only Allowed in the “Free Speech Zone”
Posted by MichaelGroff on January 21, 2013 | Filed under Podcasts
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More than 500,000 people gathered in the sub-freezing temperatures throughout Washington D.C. to join in the celebration of President Barack Obama’s second term. The 2013 inauguration took place officially on Sunday as the constitution dictates, but the festivities were held today, interestingly enough on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Certainly there was no shortage of speeches, presenters and emotions throughout the crowd as President Obama moved through the crowd in his motorcade. One thing that you may have noticed was strangely absent from this event were protestors. As difficult as it may be to believe, there are some that dislike some of the president’s policies and actually wished to voice their displeasure. What better time and place to voice one’s concerns than on Martin Luther King day and in Washington D.C. during an inaugural… but not so fast.
Protesters were relegated to a location more than a mile away from the president and most of the activity and were cordoned off in a special “free speech zone”. This “zone” was the only area in which protesting was permitted. While this has become the standard operating procedure for any event connected with the president of the United States, it still leaves one wondering how there can be a specific zone for free expression in a country that is supposed to have such a liberty everywhere.
Not that any of us would count these things, but only 1,460 days to go in President Obama’s 2nd term.
Who Needs Congress When You have Executive Order?
Last week, President Barack Obama issued 23 executive mandates to facilitate his controversial gun control policies. While the President stressed that he is seeking a dialogue with congress, it would seem that he has decided to take matters into his own hands and do an end-around to the legislative branch in order to enact measures immediately. So far, this hasn’t sat all too well with some members of congress.
The President wants a ban on all magazines that hold more than 10 rounds as well as a prohibition on the sale and distribution of so-called assault weapons. Unfortunately, the executive orders don’t stop there, the following is a list of all executive mandates that came out of last Wednesday’s press conference.
Gun Violence Reduction Executive Actions:
1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.
2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.
3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.
4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.
5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.
6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.
7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.
8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).
9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.
10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make itwidely available to law enforcement.
11. Nominate an ATF director.
12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.
13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.
14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.
15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effectiveuse of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to developinnovative technologies.
16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.
17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.
18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.
19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.
20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.
21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.
22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.
23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.
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Yes, your doctor will now be asking about firearms in the home, whether or not you know how to properly secure them and any information you share with your health care professional is no longer subject to doctor-patient confidentiality. HIPAA laws, as we know them, are gone and privacy rights have taken another hit all under the guise of making us safer?
One also has to wonder what these new mental health definitions will be. Of course the most obvious question remains, who gets to determine what makes a person fit to own a firearm or not?
States Fighting Back
Many states view the executive orders issued by the President to be an illegal and unconstitutional infringement upon the tenth amendment (States rights). Legal challenges are already being constructed by the NRA as well as several states. Meanwhile other states, such as Arizona, are taking legislative action to stop the President’s measures.
Rep. Steve Smith (R-Maricopa) has proposed a bill that would make it illegal for a federal official to enforce the President’s law. That may take a moment to set in, but indeed this is one example of a state that has no intention of adhering to what they feel is an unjust and blatant abuse of power.
Excerpt from Capitol Media Service (Howard Fischer reporting)
But Charles Heller, a spokesman for the Arizona Citizens Defense League said he sees one benefit to what Smith is trying to do: Get the issue in front of a judge.
Heller said anyone challenging a federal law needs legal “standing” to bring such a case. He said anyone who is forced to choose between conflicting state and federal laws automatically has such standing.
One section of Smith’s legislation, though, does have a penalty: Any federal official or agent who sought to enforce new federal firearms laws and rules in Arizona could be found guilty of a felony and sent to prison.
Clearly this is an issue that will face scrutiny from a federal judge, so despite the president’s best efforts to stay clear of our co-equal branches of government, this policy will face challenges in the coming months.
Also on this Episode
– Aaron Swartz: The story isn’t over in the case surrounding the computer genius and reddit founder. Following the feds malicious prosecution that ultimately turned Swartz to suicide, the feds dropped the trumped-up charges. Some are still not satisfied and made their feelings well known at Aaron’s memorial service this past weekend. While everyone reflected on the memory of the internet guru, the emotional undertone of a man whose life was cut short needlessly hung in the air.
This Friday a protest is scheduled to take place in Washington D.C. The goal is to bring more attention to the far reaching U.S. attorney’s office and seek out justice for Swartz. Many of those that plan to attend the protest won’t rest until Carmen Ortiz and others that were involved in the prosecution of Aaron Swartz are out of a job and even face criminal charges of their own.
– Too Much Time on Someone’s Hands: Evidently someone decided to change R.E.M.’s 1991 hit “Losing My Religion” into a major scale song. The otherwise melancholy tune normally heard in minor scale suddenly sounds a bit more alive it’s more upbeat major scale.
Sports
– Lance Armstrong comes clean but no one cares as we already knew the truth.
– First Labron and the Miami Heat take down the Lakers but then the once mighty western conference powerhouse loses to the Clippers and Bulls sinking to seven games below .500.
– Manti Te’o and his non-existent girlfriend.
– Major League Baseball leads the way in sports drug testing… actually being serious here. MLB now testing for HGH.
…phew, busy show!
August 16, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Very informative.
The REM song I think I know how it was done. (I work with Pro-Tools)
I personally don’t Like Kobe Bryant or the Lakers. I’m a Sun’s fan.
Lance Armstrong just makes me shake my head and yeah Karma paid him a visit.
Sad thing when those who are locked in themselves feel the need to end their life. The pain doesn’t stop there, it lives on in those who cared about them. RIP Aaron Swartz.
Our country needs to get back to the roots on which it was made. I strongly believe in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
I really enjoyed this one. Thank you Michael! :) <3