POST SCRIPTS

Continuing from Free Speech Article of 30 Oct 07

by Jack Lee

Talk about good timing, here we are on Halloween eve talking about anti-mask laws! Forgive me, but I couldn't resist making the connection even though this law has nothing to do with Halloween. However, it does have to do with public safety, so it's worth the read.

The mask laws (and there are many across the nation) generally go something like this, "The wearing of mask shall be prohibited whenever 2 or more persons, in a public place, engage in conduct without a permit and not related to entertainment, a theatrical performance, social gathering, ...." The law has been tested and found to be not overly broad and that it is in the public interest because it deters violence by facilitating the apprehension of lawbreakers.

These anti-mask law have been on the books for years and have been proven Constitutional and necessary. Now let's fast forward to the internet where people routinely post anonymously or under a false name. There's a real good chance that we've all done this for our own non-criminal reasons, but what about those people who do it as operatives for a major political organization like MOVEON.org or A.N.S.W.E.R. to create false impressions, distort facts, libel others or cause disruption, should there be an anti-mask law for them?

Freedom of speech or freedom to do evil?

Virtually every important law on the books is there because somebody regularly abused a freedom and the law became necessary for the protection of life and property. Now consider the abuses on the internet. Criminals hide behind fake names with little or no fear of being caught and held accountable. Sooner or later the damage to the public and to the protection of our democracy will be so compelling that we will have to take some affirmative action. I have no doubt this will happen, it is only a matter of time.

Posted by Post Scripts at October 31, 2007 10:56 AM

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