An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
H.R.3261 – Stop Online Piracy Act
There is good reason to be extremely wary of this bill. The wording of many of the items in the bill should give EVERYONE pause. An example in SOPA:
Sec.1, Title 1, Definitions
Sec. 105. Immunity for taking voluntary action against sites that endanger public health.
I’ve no doubt the writers of this bill was considering the numerous jihadi websites, or others that promote violence, but what about Burger King? Many people seem to think that fast food restaurants ‘endanger public health’. Food nazis have been on the rampage for a while now, attempting to control what people decide to have for lunch. So, if I took advertising, which I don’t, and won’t, and Burger King wanted to put an ad on my site, the government could shut me down for accepting such an ad.
In Sec. 2, a, 1:
FIRST AMENDMENT- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to impose a prior restraint on free speech or the press protected under the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.
Not true. See example above. If I accept an ad from someone the government doesn’t like, they can shut me down, which would be violating MY right to free speech! Not only would they shut me down, but anyone who is connected to this site behind the scenes, like the host we pay to run our sites. That would include silent E, and Ick.
Read the entire bill. It’s more than a bit disturbing. Congress has, over the years, whittled away our God given rights, for the purpose of control. This is just one more step in the process. My description may be extremely simplistic, but I’m sure you get the idea. Stopping theft of intellectual property isn’t a bad thing, but this is not the way to do it!
Write your Congress critter, and both your Senators. If your Rep is on this list of sponsors, rip them a new one! Let them know we do NOT approve of their sponsorship!
Sponsor
Representative
Lamar SmithR-TX
- Rep. Mark Amodei [R, NV-2]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. Joe Baca [D, CA-43]
Added December 07, 2011 - Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12]
Added November 14, 2011 - Rep. Karen Bass [D, CA-33]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. Howard Berman [D, CA-28]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Marsha Blackburn [R, TN-7]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R, CA-45]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. John Carter [R, TX-31]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. Steven Chabot [R, OH-1]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Judy Chu [D, CA-32]
Added November 30, 2011 - Rep. John Conyers [D, MI-14]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Jim Cooper [D, TN-5]
Added December 12, 2011 - Rep. Ted Deutch [D, FL-19]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Elton Gallegly [R, CA-24]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Robert Goodlatte [R, VA-6]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Tim Griffin [R, AR-2]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Tim Holden [D, PA-17]
Added November 30, 2011 - Rep. Peter King [R, NY-3]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. John Larson [D, CT-1]
Added November 30, 2011 - Rep. Ben Luján [D, NM-3]
Added November 14, 2011 - Rep. Thomas Marino [R, PA-10]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. Alan Nunnelee [R, MS-1]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. William Owens [D, NY-23]
Added November 14, 2011 - Rep. Ben Quayle [R, AZ-3]
Added December 13, 2011 - Rep. Dennis Ross [R, FL-12]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Steve Scalise [R, LA-1]
Added November 14, 2011 - Rep. Adam Schiff [D, CA-29]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Brad Sherman [D, CA-27]
Added December 07, 2011 - Rep. Lee Terry [R, NE-2]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D, FL-20]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. Melvin Watt [D, NC-12]
Added November 03, 2011
