Wednesday, March 21, 2012
HR 347: Congress, president conspire to kill First Amendment

The US Congress and the man who occupies the Oval Office have conspired to restrict free speech with the passage and signing into law H.R. 347--Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011. Sounding like a landscape beautification bill, in reality HR 347 makes it a federal offense of up to 10 years in prison to protest near "any posted, cordoned off, or otherwise restricted area" such as the White House, the Vice President's official residence, a building where "the President or other person protected by the Secret Service is or will be temporarily visiting, or a building or grounds so restricted in conjunction with an event designated as a special event of national significance."

The law applies to whoever-knowingly: enters or remains in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; intends to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions; engages in disorderly or disruptive conduct in, or within such proximity to, any restricted building or grounds when, or so that, such conduct, in fact, impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions; obstructs or impedes ingress or egress to or from any restricted building or grounds; or engages in any act of physical violence against any person or property in any restricted building or grounds; or attempts or conspires to do so.

This law was passed by unanimous consent of the Senate on February 6. The House passed it by a 388 to 3 margin on February 27, and the president signed it into law on March 8. There were 42 Representatives who did not vote on this legislation--15 Republicans and 27 Democrats. Those voting against the bill were Republicans Justin Amash (Mi) and Paul Broun (Ga). Socialist Islamic Keith Ellison (Mn) was the lone dissenting Democrat, which speaks volumes when you consider the violent protests for which his religion is known. Lawmakers cited Article 1 Section 8 as the Constitutional authority which empowers Congress "to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper" to enact this law.

Of course, this tramples the First Amendment. Wherever the president or his opponents are, no one will be allowed to protest because the mere disruption would be a federal offense. And who among us will risk a ten year jail term to test its Constitutionality? The biggest federal offense here are the conspirators against freedom who used what appeared to be a beautification bill to make the right of free speech, assembly and redress of grievances a federal crime. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:13, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." Tyrants all, Republican and Democrat. What next? Our right to assemble in worship because it is a gathering of extremists?

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson