-Caveat Lector- > > Will Los Angeles shooting be used > to restrict the irresponsible media? > > WASHINGTON, DC -- The tragic shooting at a Jewish community > center in Los Angeles this week should not be used as an excuse to > restrict the First Amendment, the Libertarian Party said today. > > Wait a second: The First Amendment? > > That's right, said the party's national director, Steve > Dasbach: After guns, freedom of speech could come under attack because > of the latest, highly publicized shooting spree. > > On Tuesday, a man described as a neo-Nazi walked into a Jewish > community center and started shooting. Police say the suspect, Buford > Oneal Furrow -- a convicted felon who had tried to commit himself to a > psychiatric hospital last year -- wounded five people, including three > children, before fleeing. > > "The people who want to diminish our freedom will use the > senseless shooting at the North Valley Jewish Community Center as an > excuse to try to further restrict the Second Amendment; that goes > without saying," said Dasbach. "But they won't stop there. The First > Amendment could be next." > > Why? Because there is solid evidence that the recent wave of > shootings around the USA is being fueled by the sensationalist media > coverage. > > As evidence, Leonard Berkowitz, a University of Wisconsin > psychologist, said such public rampages seem to be prompted -- in part, > at least -- by the excessive media coverage that surrounds them. > > "The press are by no means innocent bystanders," said > Berkowitz. "They don't only report the news; they make the news." > > And the Washington Post reported that following the > wall-to-wall media coverage of the shootings in Littleton, Colorado in > April, "mimicking behavior" was reported in every state except Vermont. > > "In other words, a case can be made that 'irresponsible' use of > the First Amendment is killing people," said Dasbach. "Apparently, > every time television networks, radio stations, and newspapers report > on these tragedies, more people die." > > So does the Libertarian Party support curbs on freedom of the > press? > > Of course not, said Dasbach. "Our point is that the urge to > trade some liberty for supposed security won't stop with guns. And the > media figures who so loudly demand restrictions on the Second Amendment > may find their favorite amendment -- the First Amendment -- is next." > > And, after journalists, the anti-freedom lobby could seek > restrictions on cars next -- since the Jewish community center shooting > bore an odd resemblance to another murderous rampage that took place in > early May 1999. > > In that incident, a deranged man drove his Cadillac into a > preschool playground in Costa Mesa, California in an effort to > "execute" children. Tragically, two children were killed. > > "We have two cases where madmen deliberately targeted > children," said Dasbach. "The only difference: One used a gun, and one > used an automobile. And the car turned out to be the more lethal > weapon. > > "If one tragedy can be used to argue for anti-gun laws, what's > to stop the politicians from using the other tragedy to demand more > anti-car laws? It sounds ridiculous -- but so does the theory that > restricting the right of law-abiding Americans to bear arms is the best > way to protect them against dangerous criminals." > > Before passing any new laws -- whether outlawing guns, the > press, or cars -- politicians should remember that the Constitution > describes individual rights as unalienable, meaning they can't be taken > away, said Dasbach. > > "The Bill of Rights isn't conditional on the behavior of crazy > people, and millions of law-abiding Americans should not lose their > rights because a maniac commits a terrible crime," he said. "Our civil > liberties should not be held hostage by criminals like Buford Oneal > Furrow." > "When the government's boot is on your throat, whether it is a left boot or a right boot is of no consequence." - Gary Lloyd DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
