Informed Electorate Podcast NewFrontier_

Connecticut Senate Bill 73  Connecticut legislators are considering FINALLY repealing a law that punishes people that publically use insulting words or slurs.  This year it may seem like people were being punished for saying the wrong thing, but that was social punishment rather than criminal punishment - punishments that make it onto your criminal record… unless you are in Connecticut.  In connecticut a statute exists known as the “ridicule law” - specifically General Section 53-37 that states: “Any person who, by his advertisement, ridicules or holds up to contempt any person or class of persons, on account of the creed, religion, color, denomination, nationality or race of such person or class of persons, shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor.”  The penalties for violating the “ridicule law” may consist of 30 days in prison, a $50 fine, or both.   This is not an ancient law on the books of a state that has never been utilized. It is actually used quite frequently - roughly about five times a year.  The problem is the law is unconstitutional, yet surprisingly has not been challenged until recently. This is not a partisan opinion, or an opinion about cancel culture, etc., its an opinion supported by both sides of the isle, the ACLU, and others. Its a non partisan fact that the constitution protects 1st Amendment rights to free speech EVEN if that speech is offensive.  We will get into the specifics of constitutional vagueness but first lets analyze the situation so you can decide whether it sounds like something worth jail time.  Two students were walking back to their dorm at UConn playing the Penis game. Yes, the Penis game, taking turns shouting the word “Penis” increasingly loud in order to draw attention to yourself. After the two students felt as if they have both passed level one in the Penis game, they started shouting racial slurs increasingly loud. No malicious intent, no passersby that were offended. A racial slur was overheard and then police were sent on a week long investigation tracking the walk from security camera footage, door trackers that track who swipes into what buildings, and more. All-in-all a bit over excessive of an investigation, but certainly not unique in 2020.  Strange story, but insightful as it applies to one of the greatest constitutional protections present in our nation’s founding documents.

Let me know what you think of episode 1