As you might have heard, a school superintendent for the Needville School District (near Houston, Texas) has threatened to punish any student who joins in a gun-safety protest.
Obviously, a government institution threatening retribution against citizens who take part in political protest is a textbook violation of the First Amendment. Many lawyers have offered to defend any students wishing to protest, pro bono, should their school come after them. Including this guy:
https://twitter.com/NatsinNY/status/966433247365353472
Of course, the pro-gun lobby is very organized and super-duper smart. “Steve”‘s credentials were immediately attacked in what I think amounts to the Twitter version of a Daubert challenge.
https://twitter.com/WadeNix3/status/966435773372424192
Welcome to Fairy Land.
Steve, showing an unbelievable level of restraint and decency, tried to reason with the man.
https://twitter.com/NatsinNY/status/966435963856703488
But it was not to be.
https://twitter.com/WadeNix3/status/966436780672249860
[UPDATE: Joe here. I figured we should look up Harold Wayne Nix. Um… I have before.]
Undeterred, Steve tried to make the best of the situation.
https://twitter.com/NatsinNY/status/966437162261639168
Eventually, Steve blocked Mr. Nix… because at some point shouting into the wind becomes pointless.
We are living in the End Times of the American Republic. A dark, cold age is upon us. And, no, I don’t mean that the Sun is going to literally turn off.
Texas superintendent threatens 3-day suspension for students who walk out to protest gun laws [Vox]
Elie Mystal is the Executive Editor of Above the Law and the Legal Editor for More Perfect. He can be reached @ElieNYC on Twitter, or at [email protected]. He will resist.