Yes, We Have One of Those Stupid Speech-Limiting Bills Here Too
Arizona House Bill 2549, which just passed its committee 30-0:
It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use ANY ELECTRONIC OR
DIGITAL DEVICE and use any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggest any lewd or lascivious act, or threaten to inflict physical harm to the person or property of any person.
I'm no lawyer, but it sure looks like, under this proposed law, my blogging that Sheriff Joe is an asshole will be illegal (if he is annoyed, and believe me he is annoyed by any criticism).
Note also that by the wording of the law, said communications are illegal in Arizona if it was originated here or received here. That means if you folks in Colorado or California put something profane in an Internet comment, and it annoys some idiot in Arizona, you are technically in violation of the law.
Sometimes I have this fantasy that we have a Goldwater-libertarian streak among Arizona Republicans. Obviously, this is just that, fantasy.
