spamtimesfour 7 points8 points 6 months ago

Do you think we should have hate speech laws?

lunartree -7 points-6 points 6 months ago

I think that free speech should be upheld through the first amendment as it's always been. It protects your right to speak your mind and the truth. However, it does not protect you if you threaten or incite violence against individuals. In general, this is an exception everyone agrees makes sense both under the American constitution and in other free countries like Canada or in Europe.

However, the American system has a loophole. It does not treat inciting hate against groups the same way it treats inciting hate against an individual. The concept of a protected class is clearly defined, and its boundaries are very well tested in American courts so it's not a vague concept. I believe that hate and harassment against race and other protected classes should be regulated the same way as it would be against an individual. This wouldn't mean you'd be arrested for saying "I don't like gay people" just like saying "I don't like this individual", but if you commit actual harassment like organize a hate group that should be illegal.

We have the entire rest of the free world as living proof that there is no value in protecting the rights of hate groups like the kkk or neo Nazis. All they do is enable your country's stupidest citizens to get trapped in a hate cult. There is absolutely no useful speech that is legal in America, but banned in Canada, and they're just as multicultural as America.

[deleted] 10 points11 points 6 months ago

The US definitely has laws against inciting violence.

If you incite violence in the US, the first amendment does not protect you.