Due to concerns over national security, government agents at the United States border have traditionally had greater leeway in regards to an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights, but recently there have been growing concerns that such leeway has been stretched to…
Category: Legal
Court Upholds Law that Led to Tucson Book Ban
The Huffington Post reports that a federal court judge has upheld most of the provisions Arizona’s HB 2281, “a law banning courses that promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, foster racial resentment, are designed for students of a particular…
Federal Judge Rules That Missouri Library Cannot Block Pagan Websites
Early last year, the ACLU of Eastern Missouri filed a lawsuit charging the Salem Public Library with unconstitutional censorship for blocking internet access to information about minority religions in a case that called on the protections afforded to both religion…
Obscenity Case Files: The Miracle Decision
Before 1952, movies were not provided and protection from censorship under the Constitution. Things changed in 1952 thanks to Roberto Rossellini, Federico Fellini, and an amorous interlude between a wanderer named Saint Joseph and a disturbed peasant who believes herself…
Georgia Bill Possible Threat to Parody, Protected Speech
For the second year in a row, there is a bill in the Georgia legislature that proposes to outlaw using Photoshop or other digital imaging software to make someone appear to be nude or engaged in sexual activity. The Democratic-sponsored…
Congressional Task Force Recommends More Research on Media and Violence
Yesterday, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) released “A Comprehensive Plan That Reduces Gun Violence and Respects the 2nd Amendment Rights of Law-Abiding Americans,” which describes the recommendations of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. Nearly all of the recommendations the task…
Missouri Man Receives Three Years In Prison For Comics
The Department of Justice has announced that Christjan Bee, 36, of Monett, MO was sentenced this week to three years in federal prison without parole, followed by five years of supervised release because of comics he possessed on his computer. …
KOTAKU Takes a Look at 25 Years of Research on Violent Video Games
After the violence in Newtown — and really, any violent mass shooting these days — it didn’t take long before pundits were blaming violent video games for the violence. As happened with comic books in the 1950s, video games have…
President Recommends Yet More Research on Video Games, Violence
Yesterday, President Obama issued his list of recommendations for Congress and executive actions he plans to take in order to address gun violence in the United States. As anticipated, video games received only a minor mention in the 13-page document,…
Veep’s Violent Media Debate Leading Nowhere
This week, President Obama is expected to issue a list of recommendations for Congress and executive actions that he may take in an attempt to prevent mass shootings similar to the one that happened in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14.…