YES, many of us are concerned, because now and in the recent past, free speech has been suppressed. because of an event like the recent assassination of a very influential and nationally known and loved person. This event could and may bring about laws that put more limitations on free speech.
One law is the “PATRIOT Act,” which has been criticized for potentially chilling free speech. Limitations on speech can occur during wartime, and national crises, like “Covid”, and possibly now, with the assassination of Charlie Kirk!
Will this crime be used to put even more limitations on “free speech”? Was this crime committed just for this purpose? Was this crime done to create more rhetoric to further divide the American people? All of the above and much more probably. If groups can use this event for their own purposes they will!
“This is the lefts fault – their speech is full of hate and incitement!!! This is the rights fault – their speech is full of hate and violence!! PLEASE JUST STOP! ENOUGH ALREADY!
The modern legal test for restricting speech is
from Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), and provides a much broader protection for speech. For speech to be restricted, it must be: “Directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action,” and”Likely to incite or produce such action”.
Unfortunately, in my opinion that looks like exactly like the situation we have here with the shooting of Charlie Kirk:
The good news is: A lot of Americans, even though they may not take part in any political process like voting, and may not even know the name of the current president, seem to be attached to the “free speech”clause in the bill of rights, and can get very emotional about it. Almost everyone cares.
Here is an interesting quote published today in the Oregon Catalyst: this is by Larry Huss
In the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA we have witnessed two phenomena that should henceforth be burned indelibly into our psyche. First, that disagreement can turn into blind hate with only the slightest of encouragement. And second that both sides of the political spectrum will, in turn, embrace suppression of free speech.
Very Interesting comment !!