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53% of Americans feel that the protections granted by the first amendment go “too far.” What does this mean for America?

From The Christian Post. More than half of Americans say the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution go “too far.” One free speech advocacy group warns that such views are a “dictator’s fantasy” come true.

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The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, formerly known as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), released the results of the latest version of its National Speech Index on Thursday. The survey, which sampled the opinions of 1,000 Americans between July 5-10, is included quarterly as part of America’s Political Pulse, described as “an ongoing weekly survey conducted by the Polarization Research Lab, which will allow researchers to track shifting free speech sentiment in America over time.”

When provided with the text of the First Amendment and asked if it “goes too far in the rights it guarantees,” a plurality (47%) of respondents said the statement “does not describe my thoughts at all.” The remaining 53% believed, to varying degrees, that the First Amendment “goes too far.”

Nine percent “slightly” agreed that the First Amendment “goes too far,” while 16% said that the statement “somewhat” or “mostly” described their thoughts. Nearly one in eight of those surveyed “completely” agreed that the First Amendment “goes too far.”

Responding to its findings, FIRE said a larger share of Democrats (61%) saw the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment as too expansive than Republicans (52%).

“Evidently, one out of every two Americans wishes they had fewer civil liberties,” Chief Research Advisor Sean Stevens lamented. “Many of them reject the right to assemble, to have a free press, and to petition the government. This is a dictator’s fantasy.”

Respondents also demonstrated a high level of trust in the ability of the government to make “fair decisions about what speech is considered terrifying.” While a plurality of respondents (35%) said they did not trust the government “at all” to make such a determination, 27% said they trusted the government “somewhat” to determine what speech qualifies as terrifying, while the same percentage described themselves as “a little” confident in the government to identify terrifying speech.

Much smaller shares said they trusted the government very much (8%) or completely (3%) when it comes to policing what they deem as terrifying speech.

Similar findings emerged when analyzing respondents’ views about the government’s ability to make “fair decisions about what speech is considered” intimidating, threatening, harassing, annoying, disturbing and indecent. Americans were least likely to have confidence in the government when it came to determining which speech was annoying, with 44% indicating that they did not trust the government with this task, while 33% of respondents said the same about threatening speech.

Among all seven categories, the share of respondents who did not trust the government to determine what speech fit that criterion hovered in the mid to upper 30s with two exceptions, while the percentage of those surveyed who trusted the government “a little” with making such decisions ranged from 25% to 27%.

Between 22% and 27% trusted the government “somewhat” to make determinations about certain types of speech, and between 6% and 12% trusted the government “very much,” while between 3% and 4% trusted it “completely.”

When asked if they believe colleges and universities should “have police arrest student protesters opposing the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza” or if they should “allow the protests to continue as a matter of free speech,” a plurality of those surveyed (38%) thought that institutions of higher education should “allow the protests to continue,” while 28% supported having the protesters arrested.

“While many of the protests were lawful, some of the most high-profile protests included tent encampments, vandalism, and the occupation of buildings. These behaviors are not protected by the First Amendment and cannot be justified in the name of free speech,” Stevens added.

He cited Americans’ views about the pro-Palestinian, pro-Hamas protests as evidence that “Americans have little tolerance for some forms of protected speech and a lot of tolerance for unprotected conduct, when it should be the other way around.”

“The state of free speech in America is dire,” Stevens warned.

The research shows that most Americans agree with Stevens’ analysis, although not necessarily for the same reasons. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed believed that things are going in the “wrong direction” in the U.S. “when it comes to whether people are able to freely express their views.” This constituted an increase from the 63% who felt this way in the April survey while matching the percentage who thought the state of free speech was headed in the “wrong direction” in January.

Just 5% of respondents viewed the right to freedom of speech in the U.S. as “completely secure,” while an additional 17% described it as “very secure.” Thirty-six percent characterized the right to freedom of speech as “somewhat secure,” while 30% classified it as “not very secure” and 12% categorized it as “not at all secure.”

Share your prayers for the protection of our constitutional rights below.

(Excerpt from The Christian Post. Photo Credit: Zakarie Faibis – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74801013)

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Don
August 9, 2024

America has been so horrendously mismanaged that people have no idea what they take for granted, freedoms paid for in blood. In fact many people already have no idea what I am talking about. When the iron fist of global totalitarianism crushes the last vestiges of a free people, it will be too late.
Shortly before the return of Jesus Christ people will curse God and shake their tiny fists toward heaven, blaming Him for their own surrender to satan. Those who don’t like the First Amendment have given up their right to be a free people as the world slips temporarily into an Orwellian dystopian nightmare. When Jesus returns He will come for His
Own, those who received His free offer of forgiveness. And for those who perpetuated the mammoth hoax of world wide dictatorship, the fires of eternity are being stoked even now.

3
BJP
August 9, 2024

We should all pray as David did in Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Then we could be assured that what we spoke would be right and good.

Father, we pray that we would listen and speak words you give us and that they would come from a place in our hearts that are tuned to you and your teaching. In Jesus Mighty Name we pray. Amen

7
Susan S
August 8, 2024

The older I get the more I appreciate the wisdom of our founders.
While no one has the right to threaten or yell fire in a crowded theater, you will be offended in this world. People will say things that offend you and you will say things that offend others even if you don’t intend it. That is just the way it is in this fallen world.

2
Patti
August 8, 2024

There is nothing wrong with our free speech. It is the people speaking their views and how they are saying it. If your way of saying your view is hurting another person, property etc then it is wrong. If you can’t have a civil discussion you are wrong.
Unfortunately we have elected individuals who do not listen to us but have their own agenda, and have the news medias on their sides to spread their agendas. Most of the student in these colleges etc have no idea what is going on or even where these countries are or the history behind the problems there. They are just like a bunch of sheep who will follow along with the herd, sadly, and wake up one day at the wolf’s door. They aren’t getting an education in these schools but indoctrination to fall in line and do as they are told. This starts in grade schools by the way to prepare the future generation for the global agenda, without God. God will get tired of all this one day but how much damage will man do to himself before????? Pray, Pray, Pray.

10
    Barbara
    August 12, 2024

    I think God has already gotten tired of what’s going on. It’s only a matter of time. before …

Anndre Dove
August 8, 2024

I know I have been affected by all the ideology that has ran rampant. God have mercy, bring revival and circumcise our hearts. Keep us on fire for you, no compromise. Show us where we can act in love with no compromise. Help us to be pure witnesses for You and Your servants on the earth all by Your mighty Holy Spirit. Thank You Jesus for all You have given us. Strengthen us. I pray that Your will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen

13
Mary Beth
August 8, 2024

What a sad situation. The problem seems to be that many don’t want freedom of speech for everyone, but they do want freedom of speech for themselves. In other words, those who don’t agree with them should be muted and gagged. I would love it if all speech was godly, Biblical, kind, . . . etc., but I realize that it will not be. And if I don’t allow others the same freedom I so value, I will eventually lose mine. It is a spiritual catch-22, in some ways, because good and evil must co-habit this earth until the Kingdom of God completely dethrones the kingdom of darkness. Jesus’ parable of the wheat and tares in Matt. 13 acknowledges this. But we know when the harvest is reaped they will be separated – tares destroyed, wheat gathered into God’s presence.
So, Lord, during this season – this time when wheat and tares “grow together until the harvest” – give us grace and strength. Send us out into the fields sowing the good seed, the message about the Kingdom, so that it may advance in the earth. You said in Isa. 9:7 that “of the INCREASE of Your government and peace there would be no end”, and we want to be part of bringing that increase. Thank You, Abba!!

9
Keith
August 8, 2024

Ya know… I wonder if this is not one of the desired outcomes of the BLM / Antifa riots: To make Americans second-guess freedom of expression.

Whatever the reason for this, this is probably largely due to our education system indoctrinating our kids. A lack of proper civics education is bearing its awful fruit.

PSAs need to start being put out there and quickly.

7
    J B
    August 10, 2024

    Amen Keith. Yes, the youth of this country do not have any idea of our Founding Fathers’ sacrifice for our freedoms!! What a price they paid!! We need history, civics, geography, Bible and personal accountability to be taught to all students. Put prayer, 10 Commandments and Pledge of Allegiance back in our education system. Free speech is so vital. We have to fight, fight, fight to keep our sacred freedoms.
    Almighty God, thank you so much for our freedoms and this cherished country you gave us. Praying for America and Israel. In Jesus Name, Amen.

    1
Shirley Degroff-Ratts
August 8, 2024

Do you receive snail mail donations?? I am a 93+ widow not able to send $$ through internet, greatly appreciate receiving your emails , would gladly donate knowing it might cause a problem too!

1
Brian Lynch
August 8, 2024

Lord Jesus, I pray for these deceived, misguided people. We do not need to change the 1st Amendment. If necessary, these questionable situations need to be adjudicated by the law on a case-by-case basis.. Since when is our Constitutional rights up for debate, anyway???? The First Amendment has served this nation very well ever since it was implemented. Nothing needs to be done, despite some people’s wishes.

19
    Keith
    August 8, 2024

    We’ve grown up in a free society, not knowing the evils of tyranny.

    7
    Mark
    August 8, 2024

    Everything is up for debate. That’s the point of freedom of speech. What isn’t up for debate is the way in which any changes the American people want to make is subject to the methods prescribed in the Constitution and the laws.

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