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Author Topic: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347  (Read 3035 times)

Blakenzy

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Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« on: March 01, 2012, 11:51:56 PM »
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/212873-house-approves-white-house-trespass-bill-sends-to-obama

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h112-347

It seems you can't assemble or protest anywhere near someone who is eligible for Secret Service protection. I suppose to petition Government for a redress of grievances you are now limited to writing a polite letter.

This and the NDAA will come in handy for the G8 summit this year.  :police:
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Regolith

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Re: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2012, 05:41:38 AM »
From what I can tell, it's not as bad as detractors are making it out to be in some ways and really bad in others.  See this article:

http://reason.com/blog/2012/03/01/does-hr-347-the-trespass-bill-change-any

Basically, it's just an update to a law that's already on the books so that it covers DC as well (which, for some odd reason, wasn't covered in the federal law and was operating on local laws).

The bad part is they changed the "knowingly and willfully" part to just "knowingly".  So if you accidentally enter an area that the SS has cordoned off (say, a building where an SS protectee is visiting), and you had no idea that you weren't supposed to be there, you can still get a year in the clink, whereas before they had to prove you entered the area knowing that the area was cordoned off and that it was illegal for you to be there.

Oh, and if you're carrying they get to toss you in jail for 10 years.

« Last Edit: March 02, 2012, 05:46:09 AM by Regolith »
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HankB

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Re: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2012, 08:32:16 AM »
Quote from: Regolith on March 02, 2012, 05:41:38 AM
. . .  So if you accidentally enter an area that the SS has cordoned off (say, a building where an SS protectee is visiting), and you had no idea that you weren't supposed to be there, you can still get a year in the clink,  . . .
How does one accidentally enter an area that's been cordoned off? Wouldn't there have to be, well, an actual cordon (fences, line of uniformed cops, etc.) which are sort of hard to overlook?

Breaking a cordon (climbing over a fence, pushing past cops as part of a crowd, etc.) would be one thing, but I would be very surprised if someone who accidentally entered such an area - perhaps because the cordon wasn't actually complete - would go to the klink for any longer than it took authorities to drop charges - at worst, a case of beating the rap, but not beating the ride.
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Fitz

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Re: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2012, 08:57:35 AM »
I've accidentally entered a "Cordoned off area" before.

Security detail showed up late. I was already in the area. Then they hassled me about being in the security zone that they had, in effect, erected around me.
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HankB

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Re: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2012, 10:16:02 AM »
Quote from: Fitz on March 02, 2012, 08:57:35 AM
I've accidentally entered a "Cordoned off area" before.

Security detail showed up late. I was already in the area. Then they hassled me about being in the security zone that they had, in effect, erected around me.
Any details you're willing to share?

And how much time did you serve in prison?  ;)
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Sometimes I wonder if the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it. - Mark Twain
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Monkeyleg

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Re: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2012, 10:36:03 AM »
Quote
Any details you're willing to share?

And how much time did you serve in prison?

It wasn't actually a secure area he entered. It had the yellow tape for "caution, wet floors" around it.
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HankB

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Re: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2012, 11:58:10 AM »
Quote from: Monkeyleg on March 02, 2012, 10:36:03 AM
It wasn't actually a secure area he entered. It had the yellow tape for "caution, wet floors" around it.
No problem - the ones to worry about are the placards reading "Piso Mojado."  :O
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Trump won in 2016. Democrats haven't been so offended since Republicans came along and freed their slaves.
Sometimes I wonder if the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it. - Mark Twain
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Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain

freakazoid

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Re: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2012, 09:50:38 PM »
Quote from: Regolith on March 02, 2012, 05:41:38 AM
From what I can tell, it's not as bad as detractors are making it out to be in some ways and really bad in others.  See this article:

http://reason.com/blog/2012/03/01/does-hr-347-the-trespass-bill-change-any

Basically, it's just an update to a law that's already on the books so that it covers DC as well (which, for some odd reason, wasn't covered in the federal law and was operating on local laws).

The bad part is they changed the "knowingly and willfully" part to just "knowingly".  So if you accidentally enter an area that the SS has cordoned off (say, a building where an SS protectee is visiting), and you had no idea that you weren't supposed to be there, you can still get a year in the clink, whereas before they had to prove you entered the area knowing that the area was cordoned off and that it was illegal for you to be there.

Oh, and if you're carrying they get to toss you in jail for 10 years.



I don't think you can knowingly accidentally enter an area. ???
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Regolith

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Re: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2012, 11:42:14 PM »
Quote from: freakazoid on March 02, 2012, 09:50:38 PM
I don't think you can knowingly accidentally enter an area. ???

You basically just have to know that you walked into the building/area. You DON'T have to know that you weren't supposed to be there.
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Blakenzy

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Re: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2012, 04:51:05 AM »
The Bill does not just cover entering a "restricted" building or area, but also being in the proximity of one. It effectively gives authorities the tool to give protestors a year in prison for peacefully assembling in proximity to where Government is located. Two conditions for throwing you in prison: gathering outside an area deemed restricted and the claim you are impeding Government business, both of which are entire subjective and vague, I believe deliberately so.

The essence of a protest is to be seen and heard. Next, you will be expected to use a "free speech booth" to voice your concerns. Or write a polite letter as I said before, as strong worded ones probably won't be read.
« Last Edit: March 03, 2012, 05:11:47 AM by Blakenzy »
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bedlamite

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Re: Right to assemble made illegal if Dear Leader is around - H. R. 347
« Reply #10 on: March 04, 2012, 06:33:20 PM »
Quote from: Blakenzy on March 03, 2012, 04:51:05 AM
Next, you will be expected to use a "free speech booth" to voice your concerns.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_amendment_zone2.jpg
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