|
They are talking about the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform act being found constitutional. First off, I support gun rights to the extent that the guns are legitimately needed for something, and that they are used in a manner that will promote security not anarchy, so I am not some anti-gun freak. However I do not support the spreading of FUD by large special interest groups. It is of course hyperbole to the nth degree as I'd expect. It certainly does not apply only to the NRA. It is not censoring anyone's opinions. And it has nothing to do with gun control specifically. The NRA can still go on and on all day long about how they want people to be able to own .50 caliber rifles for their hunting expeditions. They just can't campaign for specific candidates on the sub-infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, a public resource, within the guidelines.
I don't know all the details of the act, but from what I do know it prevents special interest groups (e.g. the NRA) from throwing piles of money at a campaign to get someone elected via the Golden Rule ("the one with the gold, rules"). This is constitutional on the same basis as levying fines on those who broadcast the word fuck on TV. The airwaves are not privately owned, they are a public resource and the government can regulate their use to a reasonable degree. I am as much of a free speech fanatic as anyone, but I think the act is a step in the right direction toward reforming the election process. Whether it is too restrictive of free speech I'm not as sure about, but it is not the doomsday "repealing the First Amendment" scenario that the NRA would like to make you think it is.
Yes, "ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN have the right to present any spin on 'gun control' they want." And Fox News has the right to balance all of them out and then some.
|