Monthly Archives: March 2015

Wikipedia Just Joined the List of Pissed-Off Organizations Suing the NSA

Posted on by

Wikipedia's parent organization just joined the fight against dragnet government surveillance.

The ACLU filed a lawsuit today against the National Security Administration for its spying tactics. The lawsuit challenges the NSA's surveillance program as a violation of Fourth Amendment privacy rights, an infringement on First Amendment rights, and an overstepping of the authority given to the NSA under Congress' FISA Amendments Act.

"The reason we're filing this lawsuit is that we feel we've been harmed directly by the NSA," Wikimedia General Counsel Geoff Brigham told me, noting that the NSA explicitly targeted Wikipedia in a top secret document revealed by Edward Snowden. Plaintiffs stretch across political boundaries and include both conservative and liberal organizations.

This is far from the only recent lawsuit against the NSA. In February, a judge announced that he can't rule in Jewel vs. NSA, a lawsuit filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation against the NSA's spying tactics. The EFF has also filed a suit regarding government spying in July 2013 (First Unitarian vs. NSA) and helped the ACLU on the legal team for Smith vs. Obama, which also argued that bulk government data collection violates a citizen's Fourth Amendment rights.

So far, none of these cases have worked out. Smith v. Obama was dismissed. And the ACLU cited Clapper vs. Amnesty as a precedent to this case. While that lawsuit wound up dismissed by the Supreme Court after it determined that plaintiffs couldn't prove they were getting spied on, there's still a lot of optimism this time around.

"I expect the district court will rule in our favor and that the NSA will accept that ruling," Bingham told me.

First Unitarian is still pending, and also boasts a long and weird list of organizations united together primarily by their reluctance to be okay with sweeping government surveillance. Just to give you a glimpse at the scope of furious groups, here's a list of all the companies and organizations currently participating in pending suits related to the NSA's surveillance program:

I have a feeling this list will just keep growing if the pending cases aren't heard soon. So far, Obama's weak stabs at NSA reform haven't exactly soothed reasonable concerns that government surveillance is an uncontrolled privacy piss-storm.

Read more:

Wikipedia Just Joined the List of Pissed-Off Organizations Suing the NSA

Ep. 69: The 2nd Amendment at the Supreme Court (with Alan Gura) – Video

Posted on by


Ep. 69: The 2nd Amendment at the Supreme Court (with Alan Gura)
This week Alan Gura joins us for a talk about gun rights at the Supreme Court. What does the text of the Second Amendment say, and how have courts interpreted it over the years? What #39;s...

By: Libertarianism.org

See original here:

Ep. 69: The 2nd Amendment at the Supreme Court (with Alan Gura) - Video

Liam Neeson Calls for Repeal of Second Amendment – Gun-Glorifying Hollywood Hypocrisy Exposed – Video

Posted on by


Liam Neeson Calls for Repeal of Second Amendment - Gun-Glorifying Hollywood Hypocrisy Exposed
Liam Neeson, whose career has been built on glorifying gun violence and mass murder, has called for the Second Amendment of the Constitution, the right to bear arms, to be repealed! *SUBSCRIBE*.

By: Mark Dice

Continue reading here:

Liam Neeson Calls for Repeal of Second Amendment - Gun-Glorifying Hollywood Hypocrisy Exposed - Video

3.10.15 | Second Scoop: Snoop Dogg goes Anti, Gun Ownership Down, Wayne LaPierre on AR-15 Ammo Ban – Video

Posted on by


3.10.15 | Second Scoop: Snoop Dogg goes Anti, Gun Ownership Down, Wayne LaPierre on AR-15 Ammo Ban
The Second Scoop: Chris Cheng provides humor, insight, and commentary on the top gun stories you should know about. Come back every Tuesday for a delicious serving of Second Amendment news ...

By: Top Shot Chris Cheng

Read this article:

3.10.15 | Second Scoop: Snoop Dogg goes Anti, Gun Ownership Down, Wayne LaPierre on AR-15 Ammo Ban - Video

Republicans push to legalize silencers, sawed-off shotguns

Posted on by

PHOENIX (AP) - A Republican lawmaker who has been pushing a series of guns rights bills pulled out a new proposal Monday, tacking an amendment onto a minor bill that will legalize sawed-off shotguns, silencers and nunchucks in Arizona.

The state already has some of the strongest Second Amendment protections in the country, but the Republican-dominated Legislature is working to add more breathing room for gun owners.

The amendment by Sen. Kelli Ward, R-Lake Havasu City, adds to a bill designed to restore a persons gun rights if a judge sets aside a guilty conviction.

We have a right to keep and bear arms and really that right shouldnt be infringed, she said.

The amendment legalizes devices that muffle guns, rifles and shotguns with barrels less than 16 inches and nunchucks - weapons made from two sticks or rods connected by a rope or chain.

Ward said the idea for her amendment came from a pastor in the western Arizona community of Topock who wants to own nunchucks.

Critics said the amendment is overly broad and avoided scrutiny by never going through committee hearings.

Rep. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, said Wards amendment makes the bill less about helping people and more about legalizing weapons prohibited under Arizona law.

It is only going to further our reputation on The Daily Show here in Arizona that we couldnt find a way of banning driving while texting while at the same time making legal silencers, sawed-off shotguns and nunchucks.

Rep. Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said he sees the problem with sawed-off shotguns, but not silencers. This bill could be going too far, he said.

Read this article:

Republicans push to legalize silencers, sawed-off shotguns

Nexstar's Top Executive Receives 1st Amendment Award in DC

Posted on by

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The Radio Television Digital News Foundation hosted its First Amendment awards in the nation's capital on Wednesday night.

The first amendment awards celebration honors working journalists and corporate executives for their hard work and dedication in the television broadcasting industry.

Receiving the 25th First Amendment award Wednesday night was Nexstar Chairman, President and CEO, Perry Sook.

"Our local television stations do two things, one, we produce local content which is our service to the community and our identity and we help local advertisers and local businesses grow," Sook told reporters.

"30 years I've been in the business, 15 with Perry, the man has lived up to the vision of everything he set out to do when he started this company," said Timothy Busch, Nexstar's Executive Vice President.

Nexstar Broadcasting started as one station 19 years ago. Now the company owns, operates and provides sales and other services to 105 television stations reaching approximately 15.6% of all US television households.

Sook says it's all about viewers having access to their news on a 24/7 basis.

"We have endeavored to offer local news throughout the day so that if you're working shift work, 3 to 11, we have a newscast for you, early afternoon or perhaps late night or we have expanded our morning shows," said Sook.

Sook has 33 years of experience in the television and radio broadcasting industry and credits the viewers for the success of his business.

"For viewers and advertisers, coupling digital and broadcast is an unbeatable combination."

Go here to see the original:

Nexstar's Top Executive Receives 1st Amendment Award in DC

Nexstar's Top Executive Receives 1st Amendement Award in DC

Posted on by

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The Radio Television Digital News Foundation hosted its First Amendment awards in the nation's capital on Wednesday night.

The first amendment awards celebration honors working journalists and corporate executives for their hard work and dedication in the television broadcasting industry.

Receiving the 25th First Amendment award Wednesday night was Nexstar Chairman, President and CEO, Perry Sook.

"Our local television stations do two things, one, we produce local content which is our service to the community and our identity and we help local advertisers and local businesses grow," Sook told reporters.

"30 years I've been in the business, 15 with Perry, the man has lived up to the vision of everything he set out to do when he started this company," said Timothy Busch, Nexstar's Executive Vice President.

Nexstar Broadcasting started as one station 19 years ago. Now the company owns, operates and provides sales and other services to 105 television stations reaching approximately 15.6% of all US television households.

Sook says it's all about viewers having access to their news on a 24/7 basis.

"We have endeavored to offer local news throughout the day so that if you're working shift work, 3 to 11, we have a newscast for you, early afternoon or perhaps late night or we have expanded our morning shows," said Sook.

Sook has 33 years of experience in the television and radio broadcasting industry and credits the viewers for the success of his business.

"For viewers and advertisers, coupling digital and broadcast is an unbeatable combination."

Visit link:

Nexstar's Top Executive Receives 1st Amendement Award in DC

Nexstar CEO honored at First Amendment Awards

Posted on by

WASHINGTON (ABC 4 Utah) The Radio Television Digital News Foundation hosted its 25th annual First Amendment Awards dinner Wednesday in Washington D.C.

The First Amendment Awards celebration honors working journalists and corporate executives for their hard work and dedication in the television broadcasting industry.Nexstar Chairman, President and CEO, Perry Sook received the First Amendment Service Award.

"Our local television stations do two things: one we produce local content which is our service to the community and our identity, and we help local advertisers and local businesses grow," said Sook.

"Thirty years I've been in the business, 15 with Perry, the man has lived up to the vision of everything he set out to do when he started this company," said Timothy Busch, Nexstar Executive VP and Co-Chief Operating Officer.

Nexstar started with just one station 19 years ago. It now owns, operates and provides sales and other services to 105 television stations reaching approximately 15.6 percent of all US television households. Sook says it's all about viewers having access to their news on a 24/7 basis.

"We have also endeavored to offer local news throughout the day so that if you're working shift work 3 to 11 we have a newscast for you early afternoon or perhaps late night..or we have expanded our morning shows," said Sook.

Sook has 33 years of experience in the television and radio broadcasting industry and credits the viewers for the success of his business.

"For viewers and advertisers, coupling digital and broadcast is an unbeatable combination," said Sook.

Also honored at the event was Bob Simon, former correspondent for CBS News and 60 Minutes and journalists Steven Stolid and James Foley who received the Citation of Courage Award.

Nexstar is the parent company of ABC 4 Utah and Utah's CW30.

View post:

Nexstar CEO honored at First Amendment Awards