Poll: Majority of Americans Want First Amendment Rewritten

Washington Free Beacon – by Collin Anderson

A majority of Americans believe the First Amendment should be rewritten and are willing to crack down on free speech, as well as the press, according to a new poll.

More than 60 percent of Americans agree on restricting speech in some way, while a slim majority, 51 percent, want to see the First Amendment rewritten to “reflect the cultural norms of today.” The Campaign for Free Speech, which conducted the survey, said the results “indicate free speech is under more threat than previously believed.” 

“The findings are frankly extraordinary,” executive director Bob Lystad told the Washington Free Beacon. “Our free speech rights and our free press rights have evolved well over 200 years, and people now seem to be rethinking them.”

Of the 1,004 respondents, young people were the most likely to support curbing free expression and punishing those who engage in “hate speech.” Nearly 60 percent of Millennials—respondents between the ages of 21 and 38—agreed that the Constitution “goes too far in allowing hate speech in modern America” and should be rewritten, compared to 48 percent of Gen Xers and 47 percent of Baby Boomers. A majority of Millennials also supported laws that would make “hate speech” a crime—of those supporters, 54 percent said violators should face jail time.

American hostility to the First Amendment did not stop at speech. Many would also like to see a crackdown on the free press. Nearly 60 percent of respondents agreed that the “government should be able to take action against newspapers and TV stations that publish content that is biased, inflammatory, or false.” Of those respondents, 46 percent supported possible jail time.

The poll was released just two days after two University of Connecticut students were arrested for allegedly saying racial slurs in a viral video. The 21-year-old suspects were allegedly playing “a game in which they yelled vulgar words,” according to the police report. Lystad said such incidents and the rise of social media may be behind the increased willingness of Americans to curb speech rights.

“I think [our findings] are fueled in large part because of a rise of hate speech, but traditionally, hate speech is protected in the First Amendment,” Lystad said. “The Supreme Court has upheld that principle time and time again.”

Lystad launched the Campaign for Free Speech to advocate for preserving free and open dialogue in America. The group emphasizes that hate speech should be denounced, but does not think censorship is the answer. The group plans to push back against efforts to restrict speech at the local, state, and federal levels.

“Hate speech should be condemned, but legally, the answer to speech we don’t like is more speech, not censorship,” he said. “Our primary focus is education, and to help people better understand the First Amendment, free speech, free press, and why it’s so vital to our democracy.”

Washington Free Beacon

9 thoughts on “Poll: Majority of Americans Want First Amendment Rewritten

  1. Total bullshit, this garbage came from a paper based in the 10 mile square treason zone. Fk you and you bullshit .

    I will say whatever the hell I want, especially when it comes down to straightening JOO KIKE MTFKRS out.

    You will NEVER shut my mouth when it comes to arguing my birth given rights, YOU ARE THE ENEMY!

  2. I CALL BULLSHIT. WHAT DID YOU “POLL”? VOTERS?

    “Hate speech should be condemned, but legally, the answer to speech we don’t like is more speech, not censorship,” he said. “Our primary focus is education, and to help people better understand the First Amendment, free speech, free press, and why it’s so vital to our democracy.”
    WHICH WOULD BE A “GOVERNMENT” SURELY RUN BY “POLLS”.

    THIS SMACKS OF THE SAME “GOVERNMENT” THAT YELLED “CRUCIFY HIM”! WITH SUCH ZEAL AS TO ALLOW THE SIN TO THE BE BURDENED BY THEIR DESCENDANTS………………

    Mat 27:24  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 
    Mat 27:25  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 

  3. Totally Agree = BS !! FREE SPEECH MEANS FREE SPEECH !! Obviously, the article means Deep State NWO to censor people like us, they do NOT want to hear others about the REAL TRUTH !!

  4. All I can say about this article and the polls it was based on has already been said, but I feel obligated to join the chorus.

    COMPLETE AND UTTER BS.

    All Americans value their freedom of speech, and are aware of the consequences of losing it.

  5. You can’t rewrite what is intrinsic and automatically granted at birth. That’s like saying water will no longer be wet.

    .

  6. “1,004 respondents” does not equal America.

    Reverse the repeal of the Smith-Mundt Act , that is the best way to (begin) to “fix” the press.

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