Trump appointed Judge Michael T. Liburdi says armed thugs in AZ...

[augyboston]

Are just exercising their First Amendment Rights - WTF!?!

This no holds barred interpretation of the First Amendment is insanity. There are limits to Free Speech and camping out by voter lock boxes to intimidate voters is not what James Madison had in mind when he drafted the first amendment.

What's next it's okay if a RW screwball shoots you between the eyes because he's just exercising his freedom of speech???

[Irish_Dem]

1. The GOP is using Bill of Rights to destroy democracy. Ironic isn't it?

[dlk]

2. Republicans are perverting the First Amendment for political gain

Intimidating voters with guns is not free speech. It is a public safety threat. The problem when Republicans are el cited is they appoint radical, extremist judges who twist the Constitution into a pretzel.

[stopdiggin]

18. that argument went out the window

when 'open carry' became the law in many places (as it is here). You cannot argue 'intimidation' - if carrying the gun (the vest, the camo, the mask) are all perfectly legal activities. The only thing left to argue, is how 'closely' these people can 'observe' (can they lean right up against the box, or do they have to maintain a certain distance?). In this case - it was clear that they weren't encroaching as far as distance, or actually impeding access to the boxes. Everything these people were doing - would be 100% legal if done in another public setting.

People are asking this judge to deem legal activity as suddenly unlawful - because of it's offensive nature. I don't like these jackhammers 'carrying' their sh*t into Walgreens or Target either - but that doesn't make it illegal.

[dlk]

19. I think that entire line of reasoning is a public safety threat

Unfortunately, there are too many Republican judges to uphold Republicas’ radical, extremist gun laws that jeopardize everyone’s safety. In my view, it’s a perversion of 1A. Random citizens, armed and dressed for battle, monitoring voters is intimidation, however it’s dressed up or interpreted by the courts.

[stopdiggin]

22. I would agree completely

Where we'll probably have to continue to disagree - is that I believe this judge applied the law pretty much as it currently stands (and I'm not at all sure if we would have seen a different result from a judge with different antecedents).

We'll see where this goes. But as it stands now, 'dressing up in battle gear' (as offensive as we may find it) is completely lawful activity in this state. Ergo - it probably can not be cited as 'intimidation.'

------ -------

[MarineCombatEngineer]

23. +100.

In this state, one has the right to dress up like GI Joe complete with rifle and act like an asshole, which these jackasses are doing.

Hell, in AZ, I can carry a Barrett .50 rifle down the street without any permit and it's perfectly legal unless one is prohibited by law to own or be in possession of a firearm.

How crazy is that?

[former9thward]

27. Has there been any issues with people carrying Barrett .50 rifles down the street?

[dlk]

25. Battle gear with a gun changes the threat level, in my view

Being surveillance by those in tactical gear and with arms is meant to be intimidating, not inspire personal safety confidence for voters. Republicans like to consistently whine about their rights be violated. The truth is, they pervert 1A, and 2A, for that matter, for their own selfish ends. They have no regard for the collective public good, only their own selfish wants and whims.

[Samrob]

20. Just as they have done with the 2nd Amendment. nt

[Cattledog]

3. If armed Black Panthers were doing this that Judge would have ruled against them.

[Phoenix61]

5. Beat me to it.

They would have been arrested for loitering.

[Catherine Vincent]

9. Yep!

Didn't the blk panther party do this several years ago and was arrested? I don't remember which election.

[former9thward]

28. The Black Panther Party has not been around since the mid 70s.

So I doubt they were arrested several years ago.

[Catherine Vincent]

35. I thought there was a new black panther party?

[former9thward]

36. Yes, and there is a "new" Students for a Democratic Society.

But you can't recreate the 1960s, 1970s. It is over.

[Prairie_Seagull]

11. Or clearly identifiable gang members.

Just from a different gang.

[hlthe2b]

4. Decision already appealed to the 9th Circuit.

[Emile]

6. What they are doing is against federal election laws. Garland

will get right on this I'm sure.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. Everybody wants Garland to do everything. He gets criticized for not doing everything instantly

[Emile]

26. Apparently he is not doing enough or he would do something!

[Takket]

7. And yet the country lost its SHIT

When unmasked unarmed protestors showed up at Kavanaghs House.

[plimsoll]

12. And they'll make jokes about Pelosi's husband.

Demand Biden denounce the violence perpetrated by the right against his own party.

I'm reminded of the questions Enron staff asked the execs, "How much crack are you smoking, or do you plan to start?"

[paleotn]

17. Part of the country lost its shit.....

The reich and the major news outlets who follow the reich like yapping puppies. Most everyone I know figured Kavanagh deserved the unwanted attention at home.

[blueinredohio]

8. If he shoots you between the eyes is the second amendment.

So they are protected under 1st and 2nd amendments.

[G2theD]

10. I thought armed voter intimidation was a no-no in this country.

I guess I’ve been wrong all these years.

[Rebl2]

16. Not any longer

I guess. Suppose democrats could do the same. Sit out there near ballot boxes doing same thing republicans are doing. Oh and bring your gun, because democrats have guns too. Not all of us, but some do. I imagine if democrats show up, then police will show up and say they can’t do this because it’s voter intimidation.

[jaxexpat]

14. No shortage of right wing hypocrisy in this decision.

We may enjoy a steady stream of such decisions if the coming election gives them the house AND senate
If only we had a DOJ who gave a flying shit about justice.

[Mr.Mystery]

31. No kidding. I keep hoping Merrick Garland proves me wrong

But so far, he’s Merrick Milquetoast.

For how many years do we have make excuses for this man?

[jaxexpat]

33. How about Merrick "Chamberlain" Garland.

Soon to be famous for the line, "justice in our time, or some point in a future time when I'm not involved".

[aggiesal]

15. Duplicate ...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142987264

[Tribetime]

21. What's the difference of bringing guns to polling places on election day then

It seems like the same thing to me

[GoodRaisin]

29. Morons with guns "guarding election boxes" is a constitutional right of morons.

Common sense has gone completely out the window in this country.

[Mr.Mystery]

30. So, if people protest in front of his house with AR 15's,

That’s their first amendment right too?

Good to know . . .

Actually, it would be a helluva media-attracting protest stunt to protest in front of his house with CARDBOARD fake guns.

Then when the police swoop in to show how “rights for me are not rights for thee,” the protesters could show what a craven hypocrite the Judge is—he subjects others to the threat of real guns while he himself quakes in fear of a fake gun in his presence.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

32. Ninth Circuit issues scheduling order in the emergency appeal involving voter intimidation at Arizon

Yeah for Marc Elias

Link to tweet

[BrienDoesIt]

34. The people responding to that are off their gd rockers.

I fckin hate it here sometimes.