The Cruel Truth About Free Speech

The far reaches of free speech in American society is sometimes defined by people who we may not like: pornographers, bigots, and assorted zealots. But these people who we may find downright creepy serve a positive function. The keep the range of permissible speech broad enough to ensure free and open political and social debate, which is good for all of us.

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a law that made the production and distribution of animal cruelty videos illegal, even if the producer or distributor of the videos was not involved in the original acts of cruelty.

The Supreme Court called the law too broad and questioned the ability of Congress to interpret where the First Amendment ends. NPR reports.