General Discussion

judgen

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11. No they can't, or actually they can.

Tue May 13, 2014, 07:18 AM

May 2014

In short unless they want to shred the 1st amendment they can not do a shield law on the federal level or the state level.

Verbatim quote: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

MAKE NO LAW is the most important part of the entire amendment.

To be able to pass a shield law, congress would need to either repeal the 1st amendment, the constitution or rewrite it in it's entirety.

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Are journalist shield laws unconstitutional? [View all] geek tragedy Sep 2013 OP

In the spirit of the first amendment should this shield exist? Glassunion Sep 2013 #1

There's the rub--if not everyone gets this right, no one but the government geek tragedy Sep 2013 #2

Journalist shield laws fall under the first amendment protections. Agnosticsherbet Sep 2013 #3

No they don't. Shield protections are created by statute, not by the constitution. geek tragedy Sep 2013 #4

Sheilds laws are constitutional because they fall under "Freedom of the Press." Agnosticsherbet Sep 2013 #8

I agree they're constitutional, but that's because I think geek tragedy Sep 2013 #10

I technically voted for 3. NuclearDem Sep 2013 #5

Complicated Question w/ No Easy Answer BKH70041 Sep 2013 #6

Weak. Marr Sep 2013 #7

So, in your view judges get to decide who's a journalist and who isn't? nt geek tragedy Sep 2013 #9

No they can't, or actually they can. judgen May 2014 #11

Shield laws do not abridge free speech nor geek tragedy May 2014 #12