How does this sound? You want to purchase a firearm. You fill out your form and then wait while local authorities perform a 3-year review of your online/social-media history. Their job is to make sure there is no disqualifying hate speech in there someplace.
According to Newsweek, Senator Kevin Palmer is currently working on legislation that would allow authorities to go over the social media history of would-be gun purchasers for up to three years prior to the purchase to check for offensive or hateful speech:
Related: There’s No Hate Speech Exception to the First Amendment
The same liberal State that would enact such restrictions is also the one that decides what speech is hate. It’s perfect, except there are a few problems. There’s no such thing as hate speech. The Supreme Court.
The Court has been very clear about this, not that it will stop New York or any state with a liberal legisaltive majority from considering it. Paired discreetly or otherwise with red flag laws the use of past expressions as an opportunity to disarm citizens sounds likely to me.
Stick and Stones May Break My Bones But Words…
Red Flag laws leave law-abiding citizens open to confiscation on the whims of others including second or third parties committed to denying you your second amendment rights. People who deliberately flag you. Allowing some open-ended interpretation of speech defined by social justice leftists could effectively suppress the political expression of millions of gun owners. Afraid to speak their minds for fear that their words might raise red flags.
Don’t scoff. They are thinking about it. And not just in New York.
Related: There is no Such Thing as Hate Speech
