The year of 2015 would be known as the year that seemingly everyone in the United States of America was offended by something. Throughout the year, it seemed as though the First Amendment had been liberally thrown around during controversial times. Due to this year’s subjects of controversy being surrounded around the First Amendment, some Americans are suggesting that the First Amendment should be regulated or restricted in special cases. Although it seems like only a few extreme number of people would even assert the idea that the First Amendment gives too much freedom, this idea is becoming more common among the American people. A survey conducted by the First Amendment Center reported that in 2013, 34% of Americans believed the First Amendment
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The same study by the First Amendment Center mentioned earlier had displayed some surprising results when it came to knowledge of what the First Amendment is. Nearly all Americans are supposed to, or should know their First Amendment rights from high school education. Apparently this is not the case, as only 59% of Americans can list the freedom of speech as being included in the First Amendment. While this seems rather unsettling that only roughly half of Americans know that this is a protected right, there are still 4 other rights that are protected by the First Amendment. The percentages of Americans understanding that these rights are protected are dramatically lower than knowledge of the free speech protections. 24% of Americans were able to list the freedom of religion as a First Amendment right, with 14% being able to list the freedom of press, and 11% able to list the freedom of assembly. The lowest percent would belong to the freedom of petition, which would be a lowly 4% of Americans who knew of this right. These percentages are extremely alarming, considering the fact that many Americans are calling to limit and restrict a right they do not even understand. The situation at hand is much like a person shooting themself in the foot due to an ignorance of firearm use. Americans would be crippling themselves by attempting to …show more content…
When such opposition rises, it could be tempting to ensure these undesirable opinions would be suppressed and destroyed through regulations and restrictions against these agitators. While it sounds good to silence the opposition, these actions could later backfire against future generations. When society becomes infiltrated by evil and the wrong becomes the majority, the restrictions put in place before will work against the good. For these reasons, the First Amendment was erected. Robert Richards, director of the Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment, commented on the purpose of the First Amendment saying, “in a sense, we have a First Amendment to protect unpopular expression – or the minority viewpoint – because we don’t need a constitution to protect what the majority things. The majority takes care of itself.” Although it may not seem like it, there are members of the government who realize that this right should give equal protection for all, and thus members of the House of Representatives have proposed the First Amendment Defense Act. In the midst of the Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage on a federal level, conflict has risen between religious institutes and members of the LGBT community which the members of the House of Representatives has acknowledged,
The same study by the First Amendment Center mentioned earlier had displayed some surprising results when it came to knowledge of what the First Amendment is. Nearly all Americans are supposed to, or should know their First Amendment rights from high school education. Apparently this is not the case, as only 59% of Americans can list the freedom of speech as being included in the First Amendment. While this seems rather unsettling that only roughly half of Americans know that this is a protected right, there are still 4 other rights that are protected by the First Amendment. The percentages of Americans understanding that these rights are protected are dramatically lower than knowledge of the free speech protections. 24% of Americans were able to list the freedom of religion as a First Amendment right, with 14% being able to list the freedom of press, and 11% able to list the freedom of assembly. The lowest percent would belong to the freedom of petition, which would be a lowly 4% of Americans who knew of this right. These percentages are extremely alarming, considering the fact that many Americans are calling to limit and restrict a right they do not even understand. The situation at hand is much like a person shooting themself in the foot due to an ignorance of firearm use. Americans would be crippling themselves by attempting to …show more content…
When such opposition rises, it could be tempting to ensure these undesirable opinions would be suppressed and destroyed through regulations and restrictions against these agitators. While it sounds good to silence the opposition, these actions could later backfire against future generations. When society becomes infiltrated by evil and the wrong becomes the majority, the restrictions put in place before will work against the good. For these reasons, the First Amendment was erected. Robert Richards, director of the Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment, commented on the purpose of the First Amendment saying, “in a sense, we have a First Amendment to protect unpopular expression – or the minority viewpoint – because we don’t need a constitution to protect what the majority things. The majority takes care of itself.” Although it may not seem like it, there are members of the government who realize that this right should give equal protection for all, and thus members of the House of Representatives have proposed the First Amendment Defense Act. In the midst of the Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage on a federal level, conflict has risen between religious institutes and members of the LGBT community which the members of the House of Representatives has acknowledged,