The Language of Virginia's New Anti-Free Speech Legislation Is Absolutely Unbelievable

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, left, accompanied by his wife, Pam, speaks during a news conference in the Governor's Mansion in Richmond, Va., on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. Resisting widespread calls for his resignation, Northam on Saturday vowed to remain in office after disavowing a racist photograph that appeared under his name in his 1984 medical school yearbook. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Virginia’s current Democrat governance has devolved into an absolute dumpster fire.

Last week, protestors numbering in the tens of thousands took to the streets of Richmond to oppose a slate of new gun control laws which clear violate the letter and spirit of the 2nd Amendment. For their trouble, the mainstream media smeared them as white nationalists and violent extremists. In the end, things were peaceful and anchors at CNN were really sad, but the point was made. Citizens were not going to sit idly be and be subjected to unconstitutional nonsense. As I write this, hundreds of bodies in Viriginia have passed resolutions of non-enforcement and pledged to not expend resources to help Gov. Ralph Northam (also know as “Coonman” to his racist friends) in his crusade.

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With the backlash that has formed toward the state’s government in the aftermath of these laws, they’ve decided to respond in the most insane way possible. Namely, attempting to legislate the 1st Amendment out of existence.

No, that’s not an overstatement.

https://twitter.com/dswhisperer2/status/1220543600821444608

Here’s the full text on Virginia’s website just in the case the above seems so insane as to get me accused of posting something that’s fake.

This is the kind of thing you’d expect to see passed in communist China or the former Soviet Union. It’s so unbelievably broad as to basically encompasses all criticism of Ralph Northam and the other government officials around him. For example, what is “indecent” or “immoral” in this context? The law doesn’t say, and that’s no doubt on purpose. This also appears to outlaw jokes and memes which may contain less than G rated language.

But even if one thinks the things outlawed in this legislation are indeed bad and shouldn’t be done, the 1st Amendment is still a thing last I checked. Saying “immoral” or “lewd” things in response to the actions of politicians has been standard fare since our founding. One may personally choose to abstain from such, but it’s dang sure not acceptable for a government body to outlaw major aspects of free speech in response.

The reason for this law is patently clear. Virginia’s current leadership wants to be able to pass wildly unpopular, unconstitutional laws without getting any push back. They don’t want people to organize online campaigns against them or express their displeasure in a way that may animate others to follow suit. This law would be used to harass anyone who steps out of line and it’s ironic that it’s spun as an anti-harassment law protecting high ranking state officials.

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There’s just noway this thing would pass muster at the Supreme Court, but the fact that Virginia Democrats would even feel emboldened enough to attempt this is scary enough. Virginia better wake up sooner rather than later. Their transformation to a blue state has led to some serious unintended consequences and they can put either put a stop to this stuff or be consumed by it.

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