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Why don't people understand that free-speech protections only means the government cannot throw you in jail for what you say (but they do anyway under the "try
by ck2 12y ago
Why don't people understand that free-speech protections only means the government cannot throw you in jail for what you say (but they do anyway under the "try to stop us" method http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/07/12/201422486 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/07/12/201422486 ).
It has no meaning against other individuals.
- dragonwriter 12y agoThey don't because it's not true. The reason civil libel/slander between private parties is more restricted in the US than elsewhere in the common law world is because of the First Amendment free speech and free press guarantees. The idea that it only apples in criminal disputes or where over party is the government is false; it's a limit on government, sure, but on governments power to make law, which applies both to laws governing dispute between private parties and to law governing criminal or civil cases where the government is a party.