As I suspected, your constitutional rights CAN be suspended when you are convicted of a felony. Judge Delaney explains his sentence and first amendment rights in the Newland case;
The advocacy ban was an infringement on Newland’s First Amendment rights. Delaney doesn’t deny that. But neither does he consider it more onerous or any less appropriate than many other infringements imposed as part of felony sentences.
The random searches Newland faces in the next year would be violations of his constitutional rights, but for the felony plea. Felons can face otherwise unconstitutional firearms restrictions and the right to associate with certain people or go to certain establishments, Delaney said.
“We restrict speech as well in a lot of protection orders, or in divorces, where in some cases the parties’ freedom to speak to one another may be limited,†he said
I don’t agree with limiting someone’s free speech, BUT, the judge makes a good point, felons often have many rights limited when they are on probation. It would be much worse for Bob if he was sitting in jail.
I’m reminded of what Henry David Thoreau said to Emerson when Ralph Waldo asked him why he was in jail for refusing to pay a silly little (albeit unjust) tax.
RWE: Henry, why are you in here?
HDT: Ralph, why are you not?
p.s. readers, click on my name for more on the Newland situation, and again thanks from the heart for your generous contribution, to the cause, Scott!
I hope the painting sells. I did it about 5(?) years ago, I have always liked it and it is one of the few I hang in my house.