Lawsuit: Giving Middle Finger to Police is a 1st Amendment Right

Discussion in 'Law & Justice' started by Space_Time, Feb 5, 2018.

  1. Space_Time

    Space_Time Well-Known Member

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    Is It really a 1st Amendment Right? Is it worth going to court over? Is it appropriate for a motorist to decide what is or is not a good use of police resources?

     
  2. btthegreat

    btthegreat Well-Known Member

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    I'd have to see this 'provocation' statute, but this looks like the state is punishing a gesture designed to communicate contempt for its employee. Offensive speech often provokes agents of government power.

    Who cares if it is 'appropriate' for a motorist to decide what is or is not a good use of resources. He's not deciding. He is opining.
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2018
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  3. APACHERAT

    APACHERAT Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Pointing a gun at thugs and bad hombres is a Second Amendment right.
     
  4. Diuretic

    Diuretic Well-Known Member

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    I think he'll win. Sounds like a state trooper got huffy. On the other hand when I was a cop I had a good reason to give someone the finger from my vehicle. Bloke crossing a road in the city mimed cocking a gun and firing it at me. I couldn't be bothered getting out to talk to him so he got the gesture and looked shocked by it. The trooper needs to grow a shell.
     
  5. ibobbrob

    ibobbrob Well-Known Member

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    This guy deserves a slap upside the back of his head and the $500 fine or a night in the slammer.
     
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  6. Bob0627

    Bob0627 Well-Known Member

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    While it's an idiotic thing to do and done at one's own risk (because police are generally unpredictable creatures prone to committing violence), flipping the bird at any government servant is a right protected by the Bill of Rights.
     
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  7. ibobbrob

    ibobbrob Well-Known Member

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    It is unnecessarily disrespectful to law enforcement and yes, they are unpredictable so one should have enough sense to recognize that.
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2018
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