[quote=@Buddha] Given that [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_bloc]these cunts[/url] exist and show up everywhere I am not wholly against the criminalization of masks at protest. If you are peacefully protesting something you don't need to hide your identity. Like said, theoretically the rights can be changed (and they have in Europe in some cases, as have the constitutions) but for America I don't see it happening, considering the US has not changed their constitution much as far as I am aware. So you're not wrong, but just because something is a right doesn't mean you have unequivocal access to it at all times. As for monitoring known members, this shouldn't be hard but so far the US has failed tremendously as the KKK is very prominent in rural areas in terms of obtaining seats of power in the police department for example. [/quote] It could be changed, but I don't see it happening. The optics of changing the first amendment are pretty damned bad. To change the constitution, we have to A: Call a constitutional convention, which hasn't happened since 1789, or B: Two thirds of both houses have to vote for it, and then 38 of the 50 states have to ratify, which has only happened 18 times in US history. That's a massive undertaking so it only ever really happens when something is popular with both political parties. Nobody really gives a shit about the KKK because they've pretty much been left behind. Neo-Nazi groups are more prominent now. Also, a ban on masks is going to be a hard one to hold up. It's arbitrary and will probably have a hard time holding up in courts. Not to mention, it's not like Antifa groups are exactly worried about following the law - if they show up and start doing shit that is blatantly illegal, like throwing bricks and shit, it's not like they are going to leave the masks behind. All an anti-mask law does is create an excuse for cops to start making mass arrests quicker. In them same sense when a brick is thrown they'll arrest all the protesters in a sweep, if some dude shows up in a mask they'll now start the same round-up process sooner. [quote=@cpldingo] 1st Amendment frees you from the persecution from government or its affiliates. Your 1st amendment does not protect you from the consequence of your "speech" Yes, I believe you should not be arrested for spouting idiocy, however, don't be surprised when someone who doesn't want to listen to your BS hauls off and knocks you out, at his own risk of litigation. I always back my 1st with my 2nd...RAH? [/quote] I actually agree with this more or less. Maybe I'm too much of a redneck, but "talk shit, get hit" seems like a fair rule. After all, we are talking about somebody being punched, not somebody getting lynched, it's not the end of the damned world. If someone spouts off about your girl, everyone in the vicinity will consider punching the dude an acceptable response, even though in the cosmic sense that is a pretty small offense. If someone is sitting there saying your entire race, or a racial group that might involve friends or family, should be wiped out, that doesn't become some sort of sacred speech by honor of having a political bent. Naw, it's plain talking shit, and by the laws of common decency, it can be responded to by a hit. Don't kill the guy, just bruise him up a bit. And, like you said, the law has to be impartial, so the puncher in either situation risks an assault charge. That's fair too. I do think violence can have a place in politics. Shit, I think if you are an American and you say violence doesn't have a place in politics, you are a hypocrite. But, I only support violence if I think it is going to have a positive effect (or if it follows the talk shit rule). Berkley was dumb (though Berkley does that shit every couple of years). Smashing up some woman because she voted a different way and then fucking up a few windows is useless violence. Of course, the Boston Tea Party was useless violence... that's the funny thing about history. If tomorrow the left wing went into full revolt and somehow eventually won, Berkley could become something at the same level as the Boston Tea Party. But as of now, it's just dumb violence.