Is there still freedom of speech, or are there only remnants of a once-unfettered liberty?
In Massachusetts, lawmakers have proposed making it illegal to call someone a “b*tch.”
Therefore, in this new paradigm, you’d be able to call somebody a _____, and a _____, and a _____, and a ______, and even a mother__ing ______ of a ______ like a ______ full of ______ and with their ______ up their _____ing big___ ________.
And everything’d be cool.
But then all of a sudden:
B___ OOM!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re going to jail, smartypants.
State Rep. Daniel Hunt — a Democrat representing Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood — offered the submission in May. He did so in utilization of a Massachusetts-only provision allowing a legislator to introduce a bill on behalf of a constituent.
Subsections of the potential legislation indicate the possible punishment of a fine up to $200 or up to six months in jail.
Daniel forgot to check the box indicating his use of the constituent allowance, so lots of people think it was his idea.
#Consequences:
“I got at least 50 phone calls today calling me a ‘bitch’ or the ‘C’ word, and I’ve also gotten probably 50 e-mails.”
Here’s the official description of Bill H.3719 — “An Act Regarding the Use of Offensive Words”:
A person who uses the word “b*tch” directed at another person to accost, annoy, degrade or demean the other person shall be considered to be a disorderly person in violation of this section, and shall be subject to the penalties provided in subsections (a) and (b). A violation of this subsection may be reported by the person to whom the offensive language was directed at or by any witness to such incident.
Well, it’d certainly prevent Breaking Bad’s Jesse Pinkman from doing business in Beantown. I mean, a guy willing to break the law against selling meth surely wouldn’t dare violate the prohibition of saying a word. After all, someone game to commit mass murder is nothing but a scared b*tch when it comes to ordinances against guns.
Crap…I think I just went to jail.
Fortunately for all involved, the law’s likely to never see the light of day, as it’s unconstitutional.
From The Daily Wire:
The bill, according to the [Boston Globe], was one of nearly 70 relating to criminal justice that was discussed by the Joint Judiciary Committee during a hearing. Other bills included changes in law regarding victims’ rights, juvenile offenders, and witness testimony. Hunt’s bill appears to be the only one suggesting an entirely new criminal act.
The bill is also “clearly unconstitutional,” according to Boston College law professor Kent Greenfield. He told the Globe that the “Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled in a bunch of cases that very offensive, very hurtful speech is nevertheless protected.”
Well, son of a gun.
Although, I think these days, the word “gun” is worse than the word “b*tch.”
-ALEX
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