Ocala Florida fines business owner for flying "Dont Tread on Me" flag

[BucEyedPea]

And people have been calling Putin a fascist?

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

And people have been calling Putin a fascist?

Good point. Threatening a fine over flying a flag is far more extreme than anything Putin has ever done.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Good point. Threatening a fine over flying a flag is far more extreme than anything Putin has ever done.

That wasn't the comparison I was making. Just that some were calling Putin a fascist. You do know what the word means, right? I am talking about controls on speech. You don't seem to have a problem with the man in the article saying he feels like this is Russia, now do you.

[ClevelandBronco]

Quite frankly, despite the fact that the Gadsden flag is an especially political flag that screams free speech, I suspect that his motives for flying it are somewhat advertising related rather than purely political. Of course, only he would really know whether my suspicion is true.

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Quite frankly, despite the fact that the Gadsden flag is an especially political flag that screams free speech, I suspect that his motives for flying it are somewhat advertising related rather than purely political. Of course, only he would really know whether my suspicion is true.

Even if not, I am almost certain his reasons for trying to incite an online campaign are advertising related. That's probably a big reason I don't really care that much.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

Even if not, I am almost certain his reasons for trying to incite an online campaign are advertising related. That's probably a big reason I don't really care that much.

If that was his motive, then it's pretty brilliant. He's getting press on it. That outta stir up the gun crowd!

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

If that was his motive, then it's pretty brilliant. He's getting press on it. That outta stir up the gun crowd!

Meh. Unless nearly all of his 17,000 views are loca tea party members, I doubt it's gonna be worth the fines.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

Meh. Unless nearly all of his 17,000 views are loca tea party members, I doubt it's gonna be worth the fines.

Unless he rallies a bunch of him to his cause where they all come out for him.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Quite frankly, despite the fact that the Gadsden flag is an especially political flag that screams free speech, I suspect that his motives for flying it are somewhat advertising related rather than purely political. Of course, only he would really know whether my suspicion is true.

Advertising free speech is allowed too. But gun buyers are protective of this right under the 2nd Amendment so it gets tied up with politics. Let's not forget our Framers were also discussing political speech when they wanted to protect free speech.

It's not like this is an obscenity charge against morals which supposed to be a local matter. My suspicion is that someone in Ocala may not like it because of the political message because they don't agree with it.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Advertising free speech is allowed too. But gun buyers are protective of this right under the 2nd Amendment so it gets tied up with politics. Let's not forget our Framers were also discussing political speech when they wanted to protect free speech.

It's not like this is an obscenity charge against morals which supposed to be a local matter. My suspicion is that someone in Ocala may not like it because of the political message because they don't agree with it.

Yes, obviously, advertising is speech and all speech (at least in theory) should be protected within reason. Reason not being a standard unit of measure, regulation will exist to regulate it.

I think you're correct when you guess that someone bristled and now Mr. Greenberg finds himself afoul of an attempt at reasonable regulation.

We should be grateful to the founders that all he has to do for now is take down his flag and petition for a redress of this grievance.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Yes, obviously, advertising is speech and all speech (at least in theory) should be protected within reason. Reason not being a standard unit of measure, regulation will exist to regulate it.

It's more like exceptions to the rule or are a case of conflicting rights—like protecting life. Can't put people at risk if someone yells "fire" in a crowded room. It's also a lie. Libel and slander damage others. So I don't get where this idea of regulating speech comes from when it's not a whole lot.

I think you're correct when you guess that someone bristled and now Mr. Greenberg finds himself afoul of an attempt at reasonable regulation.

Got it! But I don't think it's any thing close to "reasonable" regulation especially in a time when incorporation of the BoRs has been the continuing trend. I could see it if it was flown too high or blocked something else important but not being told he has to fly an American flag. I'm rusty on the origins of this flag, but iirc it surfaced during the American Revolution. The pieces of snake rep the colonies I believe.

We should be grateful to the founders that all he has to do for now is take down his flag and petition for a redress of this grievance.

I doubt a bunch of men who committed treason toward the crown, their govt at the time would advocate for such an act. Afterall these are men who threw tea in a harbor and pamphleteered against the crown in violation of local laws.

Where's your feisty spirit tonight CB?

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

It's more like exceptions to the rule are a case of conflicting rights—like protecting life. Can't put people at risk if someone yells "fire" in a crowded room. It's also a lie. Libel and slander damage others. So I don't get where this idea of regulating speech come from when it's not a whole lot.



Got it! But I don't think it's any thing close to "reasonable" regulation especially in a time when incorporation of the BoRs has been the continuing trend. I could see it if it was flown too high or blocked something else important but not being told he has to fly an American flag. I'm rusty on the origins of this flag, but iirc it surfaced during the American Revolution. The pieces of snake rep the colonies I believe.


I doubt a bunch of men who committed treason toward the crown, their govt at the time would advocate for such an act. Afterall these are men who threw tea in a harbor and pamphleteered against the crown in violation of local laws.

Where's your feisty spirit tonight CB?

When the British crown refused to act on repeated petitions, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter and got a few friends to cosign it. There is a time for playing masquerade and dumping tea and a time for taking up the pen.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

A Florida small business owner said Monday the city of Ocala has threatened to fine him if he does not immediately take down a Gadsden flag currently displayed outside his store.

Gear Barrel owner Keith Greenberg told TheBlaze that the city said he was permitted to fly the American flag outside his store, but prohibited from displaying anything else outside his business which specializes in selling knives.

“This is a shock,” he said. “Honestly, I feel like this is Russia. I’ve been around the world … this is what you expect in really closed countries where there is no freedom of expression. Not here — so it’s shocking.”

Just wanted to mention that his freedom of expression does allow his knife store to advertise "Killer Prices" on the window. So, that's something.

[Silock]

[Eleazar]

"Okala", aka Ocala, is funny. They should put a bubble over that place.