Should the United States Implement Hate Speech Laws?

[Socialist Nordia]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech
Free speech is held dear to the American people. Other than slander and libel, Americans have been free to say pretty much anything they want throughout our history. However, today many are calling for some regulation on absolute freedom of speech. Following the tragic Orlando shooting, members of the Westboro Baptist Church are protesting the funerals of the victims, claiming that God sent this shooter as a punishment for being homosexuals.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pul ... story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act ... didnt-die/
In many countries, actions such as this would be illegal. Should the same measures be put in place in the US? On one hand, it would seem as if these families should receive the right to mourn their loved ones in peace. However, some other countries seem to have gone a bit too far with their hate speech laws, as simply making a racist joke can sometimes land you in jail in Britain. Another issue is that implementing hate speech laws may not even be permitted by the US Constitution. Would the first amendment allow such laws to exist?

In my opinion, protests like these which promote violent killings and cause intense emotional harm to innocent, mourning families should not be legal. I cannot support its legality in good conscience. But would that be feasible? Would more harm than good come of it? I seek other opinions. Should the US institute laws prohibiting certain forms of hate speech?

[The balkens]

no.

[Valaran]

The US has bigger issues to grapple with than this.

[Genivaria]

Only if an argument can be made that a given speech actually promotes and encourages violence.
Being merely an outspoken asshole is not worthy of suppression.

You must show that something someone says actually puts people's lives at risk.

[Socialist Nordia]

Only if an argument can be made that a given speech actually promotes and encourages violence.
Being merely an outspoken asshole is not worthy of suppression.

You must show that something someone says actually puts people's lives at risk.

One could argue that violence is being promoted by those celebrating the deaths of the Orlando victims. They seem to be encouraging violence against the LGBT community when they claim that they deserved this sort of thing and that God wanted them dead.

[The balkens]

Only if an argument can be made that a given speech actually promotes and encourages violence.
Being merely an outspoken asshole is not worthy of suppression.

You must show that something someone says actually puts people's lives at risk.

One could argue that violence is being promoted by those celebrating the deaths of the Orlando victims. They seem to be encouraging violence against the LGBT community when they claim that they deserved this sort of thing and that God wanted them dead.

Thats their MO, they do it at the funerals of fallen soldiers all the damn time.

they even fucked with the 9-11 memorial site.

[South Shellfort]

Short Answer: No
Long Answer: No, because this is suppression of free speech

[Eyes that do not Lie]

No. The fact that a speech can be morally disqualified (I'm not sure if this is the right word), doesn't mean you have to make it juridical disqualified.

[Grande Republic of Arcadia]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech
Free speech is held dear to the American people. Other than slander and libel, Americans have been free to say pretty much anything they want throughout our history. However, today many are calling for some regulation on absolute freedom of speech. Following the tragic Orlando shooting, members of the Westboro Baptist Church are protesting the funerals of the victims, claiming that God sent this shooter as a punishment for being homosexuals.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pul ... story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act ... didnt-die/
In many countries, actions such as this would be illegal. Should the same measures be put in place in the US? On one hand, it would seem as if these families should receive the right to mourn their loved ones in peace. However, some other countries seem to have gone a bit too far with their hate speech laws, as simply making a racist joke can sometimes land you in jail in Britain. Another issue is that implementing hate speech laws may not even be permitted by the US Constitution. Would the first amendment allow such laws to exist?

In my opinion, protests like these which promote violent killings and cause intense emotional harm to innocent, mourning families should not be legal. I cannot support its legality in good conscience. But would that be feasible? Would more harm than good come of it? I seek other opinions. Should the US institute laws prohibiting certain forms of hate speech?

No do not limit freedom of speech it is a violation of the 1st Amendment to limit the freedom of speech

[Europe and Oceania]

Yes, they definitely should. Like Germany. And they also should implement hate group laws as well.

[The balkens]

Yes, they definitely should. Like Germany. And they also should implement hate group laws as well.

no.

[Astaliah]

no

[Valaran]

One could argue that violence is being promoted by those celebrating the deaths of the Orlando victims. They seem to be encouraging violence against the LGBT community when they claim that they deserved this sort of thing and that God wanted them dead.

That's tenuous, and likely wouldn't hold up in a court of law (I bring that up as it would need to hold up there if hate speech laws are implemented).

[Socialist Nordia]

No. The fact that a speech can be morally disqualified (I'm not sure if this is the right word), doesn't mean you have to make it juridical disqualified.

If speech promotes violence against minorities, doesn't that endanger lives? One could make the case that this sort of speech violates the rights of the LGBT community.

[Sleet Clans]

No. America has bigger things to worry about than this. Besides, we have the Patriot Guard to combat the WBC. I and I am pretty sure many others don't want the US to become locked in a cage of political correctness like Britain

[Socialist Nordia]

No. America has bigger things to worry about than this. Besides, we have the Patriot Guard to combat the WBC. I and I am pretty sure many others don't want the US to become locked in a cage of political correctness like Britain

Don't you feel that there is some middle ground between where we are now and where Britain is?

[Ava Ire]

No.

[Eyes that do not Lie]

No. The fact that a speech can be morally disqualified (I'm not sure if this is the right word), doesn't mean you have to make it juridical disqualified.

If speech promotes violence against minorities, doesn't that endanger lives? One could make the case that this sort of speech violates the rights of the LGBT community.

I agree with your statement. But I don't think it is the task of the judiciary to determine what speech endanger lives and what speech doesn't. We as a people can react to those christians, that were hating on gays by a funeral for the Orlando shooting, by blocking them from the view of the funeral attendants. This happened and I think this shows how well people can handle this sort of speech themselves.

[The Princes of the Universe]

Absolutely not. I want to know up front who would prefer me dead. Hate speech laws would, among other and even more despicable things, make this impossible.

[Grande Republic of Arcadia]

Absolutely not. I want to know up front who would prefer me dead. Hate speech laws would, among other and even more despicable things, make this impossible.

another good point here

[Genivaria]

Only if an argument can be made that a given speech actually promotes and encourages violence.
Being merely an outspoken asshole is not worthy of suppression.

You must show that something someone says actually puts people's lives at risk.

One could argue that violence is being promoted by those celebrating the deaths of the Orlando victims. They seem to be encouraging violence against the LGBT community when they claim that they deserved this sort of thing and that God wanted them dead.

If anything I think this particular group is doing more to make people more sympathetic to the LGBT community.
It's like if a stance in America got endorsed by ISIS.

[Washington Resistance Army]

No.

[Socialist Nordia]

Absolutely not. I want to know up front who would prefer me dead. Hate speech laws would, among other and even more despicable things, make this impossible.

Not everyone wants people at their loved ones' funerals telling them how horrible they are and how they deserve to die. That's not something most people want to hear. Also, this could encourage someone to actually take people's lives.

[Xenunian Galactic Confederacy]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech
Free speech is held dear to the American people. Other than slander and libel, Americans have been free to say pretty much anything they want throughout our history. However, today many are calling for some regulation on absolute freedom of speech. Following the tragic Orlando shooting, members of the Westboro Baptist Church are protesting the funerals of the victims, claiming that God sent this shooter as a punishment for being homosexuals.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pul ... story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act ... didnt-die/
In many countries, actions such as this would be illegal. Should the same measures be put in place in the US? On one hand, it would seem as if these families should receive the right to mourn their loved ones in peace. However, some other countries seem to have gone a bit too far with their hate speech laws, as simply making a racist joke can sometimes land you in jail in Britain. Another issue is that implementing hate speech laws may not even be permitted by the US Constitution. Would the first amendment allow such laws to exist?

In my opinion, protests like these which promote violent killings and cause intense emotional harm to innocent, mourning families should not be legal. I cannot support its legality in good conscience. But would that be feasible? Would more harm than good come of it? I seek other opinions. Should the US institute laws prohibiting certain forms of hate speech?

I feel this way: You can always silence someone, but you CAN'T stop them from thinking it. The solution is to work for a solid community. Once you have that community, you can always discriminate against THEM. In the case of the LGBTQ community, I'd cut out the South and start refunding them economically.

[Sleet Clans]

No. America has bigger things to worry about than this. Besides, we have the Patriot Guard to combat the WBC. I and I am pretty sure many others don't want the US to become locked in a cage of political correctness like Britain

Don't you feel that there is some middle ground between where we are now and where Britain is?

No, actually. If we were to start passing laws like this, it's going to be blamed as unconstitutional

''The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion,---> abridging the freedom of speech <---, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble''

That is what these laws basicly do: They take away your right to complain to make other people happy. Unacceptable in my book