Joey Gibson's Blog

Archive for March 6th, 2003

A whole bunch of people (Andy is just one of many) have been commenting on and blogging this story and asking “Whatever happened to Free Speech in this country?” You folks are getting this so wrong. Free Speech (note the capitalization) as defined by the Constitution only relates to the government’s abridgement of freedom of speech. It says nothing, nor should it, about speech on private property. That mall in New York is private property and the owner and his delegates (the security guards) have every right to ask anyone to leave for any reason. That’s why it’s called “private” property, after all.

Now, could the owner/security guard be rightly accused of being a knuckle-dragging troglodyte for hassling this idiot peacenik? Sure. Should they have had him arrested? Absolutely, if he refused to leave the private property once asked to do so. Heaven help us if we ever get to the point in this country that you can come to my home or business and say obnoxious things or hold signs or chant or sing Kum Ba Yah and I can’t kick your sorry butt out on the street…