Leaked Internal Memo Reveals the ACLU Is Wavering on Free Speech

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Responding to replies in the now-closed thread in LBN:

Leaked Internal Memo Reveals the ACLU Is Wavering on Free Speech

yallerdawg (15,364 posts)

18. Two clicks to "Godwin's Law!"

Reminder: Godwin has officially suspended Godwin's Law. 10 months ago, in fact.

Jim Lane (10,712 posts)

19. The comment about the Second Amendment is clearly wrong.

From the OP:

The memo also makes clear that the ACLU has zero interest in defending First Amendment rights in conjunction with Second Amendment rights. If controversial speakers intend to carry weapons, the ACLU "will generally not represent them."

The First Amendment protects "the right of the people peaceably to assemble...." (see text helpfully provided in #3). Some of the Second Amendment absolutists say that people must have guns so that they can resist (and therefore deter) government tyranny. I personally don't buy the argument about an aroused and armed citizenry shooting back at oppressive police officers, but even if it were to happen, it wouldn't be peaceable assembly. It's no contravention of the Second Amendment for the ACLU to decide that people who carry weapons are going beyond the scope of the First Amendment.

Members of the Seattle chapter stage protest at the Washington State capitol in Olympia, February 28, 1969 (photo: Washington State Archives)