What are the first amendment limitations ?
June 7, 2017 6:53 AM Subscribe
Recent court cases (eg Hobby Lobby, Citizens United) have upheld rights related to religious beliefs and free speech that aren't obvious. What limits are there, or what is the litmus/rationale behind what gets serious consideration and what gets tossed out of court ?
eg I would think most conservatives truly believe muslims want to overthrow democracy and institute sharia law. So take that on face (farce?) value, is a deeply held religious belief to overthrow the government and actions to do so, illegal ? Would it be a protected first amendment right ?
Other cases (I'm drawing specific blanks now) concern fighting things like FDA/FTC regs by saying the company has a protected first amendment right to say what they want (ie lie/deceive in advertisements etc). Normally I would think that would be laughed out of court, but the cases seem to be getting consideration.
eg I would think most conservatives truly believe muslims want to overthrow democracy and institute sharia law. So take that on face (farce?) value, is a deeply held religious belief to overthrow the government and actions to do so, illegal ? Would it be a protected first amendment right ?
Other cases (I'm drawing specific blanks now) concern fighting things like FDA/FTC regs by saying the company has a protected first amendment right to say what they want (ie lie/deceive in advertisements etc). Normally I would think that would be laughed out of court, but the cases seem to be getting consideration.
This post was deleted for the following reason: This is so broad and speculative as to be unanswerable - let me know in the next hour or so if you want to narrow it down (to asking about just one of the conflicts, for example) -- LobsterMitten
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First Amendment protections tend to be very broad.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 7:40 AM on June 7, 2017