Free speech?
- Thread starter r44astro
- Start date
Steelhead1
G Vanlier
I think that is in part the FCC ruling that will become law on net neutrality!
JerrySharrett
Senile Member
fpFree speech is free as long as you say the right things. PC Political Correctness took care of that. For example, just try saying the N word!!
adamsgt
Jerry Adams
Wilbur, I sincerely doubt that I am smarter than you but here's what I get out of the article. The Obama govt wants to expand some definitions in the ITAR that could result in technical discussions of firearms and ammunition requiring prior approval by the State Dept before they could be posted. There's goes the web site.
Yeah, you're smarter, but that's sorta what I gathered. Oh well!
Last edited:
adamsgt
Jerry Adams
Unfortunately this government now seems to be in a mode where they go around congress and create law by changing regulations. A prime example is the assault rifle ban, where you ban assault rifles and then change the definition of what constitutes an assault rifle. The IRS, BATFE and EPA are notorious for doing this. When these agencies are challenged by congress they basically say "So sue us". These and other Federal agencies are becoming mini governments with their own armies and police forces. Be very afraid.
Here is what obama is planning
Here is more information on ITAR and the possible limiting of information exchange on Internet websites.
U.S. State Department Seeks to Restrict Firearms “Technical Data”
Department of State Obama Technical Data Rules censorship
The U.S. Department of State has proposed new Federal Rules which could severely restrict the exchange of information about firearms, gunsmithing, and reloading on websites and in internet forums. Draconian penalties could be imposed on websites such as AccurateShooter.com. Restrictions on dissemination of “technical data” could impact reloading forums, and perhaps even block the publishing of gunsmithing information in print and on the internet.
Read Summary of Proposed Rule and/or SUBMIT COMMENT HERE.
Steve Johnson, Editor of The Firearm Blog (TFB), writes: “The State Department is considering expanding rules to prevent U.S. manufacturers, or U.S. citizens, from publishing unclassified technical information relating to the manufacture of any weapons, including firearms and ammunition. If the information is distributed in any way that a non-citizen could access it (which essentially means any transmission of the information to the general public even if the information never leaves the USA) it would need to be first cleared first by the State Department. Publishing includes, but [is] not limited to, blog posts, posting comments on blogs, gun forums, in books, on DVDs and on Youtube. This could spell the end of TFB, other non-political guns blogs, reduce the type of content gun magazines would publish, [and] prevent the publication of books on gunsmithing[.]” Read TFB Article.
The NRA-ILA reports:
The Obama State Department has been quietly moving ahead with a proposal that could censor online speech related to firearms. This latest regulatory assault, published in the June 3 issue of the Federal Register, is as much an affront to the First Amendment as it is to the Second. Your action is urgently needed to ensure that online blogs, videos, and web forums devoted to the technical aspects of firearms and ammunition do not become subject to prior review by State Department bureaucrats before they can be published.
To understand the proposal and why it’s so serious, some background information is necessary.
For the past several years, the Administration has been pursuing a large-scale overhaul of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which implement the federal Arms Export Control Act (AECA). The Act regulates the movement of so-called “defense articles” and “defense services” in and out of the United States. These articles and services are enumerated in a multi-part “U.S. Munitions List,” which covers everything from firearms and ammunition (and related accessories) to strategic bombers. The transnational movement of any defense article or service on the Munitions List presumptively requires a license from the State Department. Producers of such articles and services, moreover, must register with the U.S. Government and pay a hefty fee for doing so.
Also regulated under ITAR are so-called “technical data” about defense articles. These include, among other things, “detailed design, development, production or manufacturing information” about firearms or ammunition. Specific examples of technical data are blueprints, drawings, photographs, plans, instructions or documentation.
In their current form, the ITAR do not (as a rule) regulate technical data that are in what the regulations call the “public domain.” Essentially, this means data “which is published and which is generally accessible or available to the public” through a variety of specified means. These include “at libraries open to the public or from which the public can obtain documents.” Many have read this provision to include material that is posted on publicly available websites, since most public libraries these days make Internet access available to their patrons.
The ITAR, however, were originally promulgated in the days before the Internet. Some State Department officials now insist that anything published online in a generally-accessible location has essentially been “exported,” as it would be accessible to foreign nationals both in the U.S. and overseas.
With the new proposal published on June 3, the State Department claims to be “clarifying” the rules concerning “technical data” posted online or otherwise “released” into the “public domain.” To the contrary, however, the proposal would institute a massive new prior restraint on free speech. This is because all such releases would require the “authorization” of the government before they occurred. The cumbersome and time-consuming process of obtaining such authorizations, moreover, would make online communication about certain technical aspects of firearms and ammunition essentially impossible.
Penalties for violations are severe and for each violation could include up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Civil penalties can also be assessed. Each unauthorized “export,” including to subsequent countries or foreign nationals, is also treated as a separate violation.
Gunsmiths, manufacturers, reloaders, and do-it-yourselfers could all find themselves muzzled under the rule and unable to distribute or obtain the information they rely on to conduct these activities. Prior restraints of the sort contemplated by this regulation are among the most disfavored regulations of speech under First Amendment case law.
Time is of the essence! Public comment will be accepted on the proposed gag order until August 3, 2015. Comments may be submitted online at regulations.gov or via e-mail at DDTCPublicComments@state.gov with the subject line, ‘‘ITAR Amendment—Revisions to Definitions; Data Transmission and Storage.”
Finally, please contact your U.S. Senators and Member of Congress. Urge them to oppose the State Department’s attempt to censor online speech concerning the technical aspects of firearms and ammunition. Use the “Write Your Lawmakers” feature on our website or call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 225-3121.
AND MORE ALERT FROM THE NRA: https://www.nraila.org/articles/20150605/stop-obamas-planned-gag-order-on-firearm-related-speech
Here is more information on ITAR and the possible limiting of information exchange on Internet websites.
U.S. State Department Seeks to Restrict Firearms “Technical Data”
Department of State Obama Technical Data Rules censorship
The U.S. Department of State has proposed new Federal Rules which could severely restrict the exchange of information about firearms, gunsmithing, and reloading on websites and in internet forums. Draconian penalties could be imposed on websites such as AccurateShooter.com. Restrictions on dissemination of “technical data” could impact reloading forums, and perhaps even block the publishing of gunsmithing information in print and on the internet.
Read Summary of Proposed Rule and/or SUBMIT COMMENT HERE.
Steve Johnson, Editor of The Firearm Blog (TFB), writes: “The State Department is considering expanding rules to prevent U.S. manufacturers, or U.S. citizens, from publishing unclassified technical information relating to the manufacture of any weapons, including firearms and ammunition. If the information is distributed in any way that a non-citizen could access it (which essentially means any transmission of the information to the general public even if the information never leaves the USA) it would need to be first cleared first by the State Department. Publishing includes, but [is] not limited to, blog posts, posting comments on blogs, gun forums, in books, on DVDs and on Youtube. This could spell the end of TFB, other non-political guns blogs, reduce the type of content gun magazines would publish, [and] prevent the publication of books on gunsmithing[.]” Read TFB Article.
The NRA-ILA reports:
The Obama State Department has been quietly moving ahead with a proposal that could censor online speech related to firearms. This latest regulatory assault, published in the June 3 issue of the Federal Register, is as much an affront to the First Amendment as it is to the Second. Your action is urgently needed to ensure that online blogs, videos, and web forums devoted to the technical aspects of firearms and ammunition do not become subject to prior review by State Department bureaucrats before they can be published.
To understand the proposal and why it’s so serious, some background information is necessary.
For the past several years, the Administration has been pursuing a large-scale overhaul of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which implement the federal Arms Export Control Act (AECA). The Act regulates the movement of so-called “defense articles” and “defense services” in and out of the United States. These articles and services are enumerated in a multi-part “U.S. Munitions List,” which covers everything from firearms and ammunition (and related accessories) to strategic bombers. The transnational movement of any defense article or service on the Munitions List presumptively requires a license from the State Department. Producers of such articles and services, moreover, must register with the U.S. Government and pay a hefty fee for doing so.
Also regulated under ITAR are so-called “technical data” about defense articles. These include, among other things, “detailed design, development, production or manufacturing information” about firearms or ammunition. Specific examples of technical data are blueprints, drawings, photographs, plans, instructions or documentation.
In their current form, the ITAR do not (as a rule) regulate technical data that are in what the regulations call the “public domain.” Essentially, this means data “which is published and which is generally accessible or available to the public” through a variety of specified means. These include “at libraries open to the public or from which the public can obtain documents.” Many have read this provision to include material that is posted on publicly available websites, since most public libraries these days make Internet access available to their patrons.
The ITAR, however, were originally promulgated in the days before the Internet. Some State Department officials now insist that anything published online in a generally-accessible location has essentially been “exported,” as it would be accessible to foreign nationals both in the U.S. and overseas.
With the new proposal published on June 3, the State Department claims to be “clarifying” the rules concerning “technical data” posted online or otherwise “released” into the “public domain.” To the contrary, however, the proposal would institute a massive new prior restraint on free speech. This is because all such releases would require the “authorization” of the government before they occurred. The cumbersome and time-consuming process of obtaining such authorizations, moreover, would make online communication about certain technical aspects of firearms and ammunition essentially impossible.
Penalties for violations are severe and for each violation could include up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Civil penalties can also be assessed. Each unauthorized “export,” including to subsequent countries or foreign nationals, is also treated as a separate violation.
Gunsmiths, manufacturers, reloaders, and do-it-yourselfers could all find themselves muzzled under the rule and unable to distribute or obtain the information they rely on to conduct these activities. Prior restraints of the sort contemplated by this regulation are among the most disfavored regulations of speech under First Amendment case law.
Time is of the essence! Public comment will be accepted on the proposed gag order until August 3, 2015. Comments may be submitted online at regulations.gov or via e-mail at DDTCPublicComments@state.gov with the subject line, ‘‘ITAR Amendment—Revisions to Definitions; Data Transmission and Storage.”
Finally, please contact your U.S. Senators and Member of Congress. Urge them to oppose the State Department’s attempt to censor online speech concerning the technical aspects of firearms and ammunition. Use the “Write Your Lawmakers” feature on our website or call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 225-3121.
AND MORE ALERT FROM THE NRA: https://www.nraila.org/articles/20150605/stop-obamas-planned-gag-order-on-firearm-related-speech