We've all heard that, in the United States v. Windsor, the Supreme Court just declared Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. In part, Section 3 stated that any mention of "marriage" in federal laws, rules, and regulations referred only to a union between one man and one … [Read more...]
I Got More Guns Than the KGB
Dan Smyth | May 20, 2013
This month, an organization called Defense Distributed discovered how to “print” a plastic pistol that really shoots. Defense Distributed, which is dedicated to preserving the right to keep and bear arms, used a 3-D printer to read a real pistol’s electronic blueprint and print out a plastic … [Read more...]
The Origination Clause II: Die Harder with a Vengeance, ObamaCare!
Dan Smyth | April 25, 2013
A U.S. district court could soon decide if the Pacific Legal Foundation's (PLF) case against ObamaCare will continue in the U.S. court system. PLF alleges that ObamaCare is unconstitutional because it violates the Origination Clause, which reads, "All bills for raising revenue shall originate in … [Read more...]
Avoiding Bloodshed? U.S. Journalists and Censorship in Wartime
Dan Smyth | April 10, 2013
“[Union journalists]…are the direct cause of more bloodshed than fifty times their number of armed Rebels.” -Union General William Sherman, 1863 Should the U.S. government or military censor wartime information in national security’s name? In my recently published article “Avoiding Bloodshed? US … [Read more...]
‘No Discrimination of Abortion Rights’ a Dangerous Policy
Dan Smyth | February 15, 2013
New York could soon shut down Catholic and other health care providers for not offering or referring for abortions. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, with enough support in the New York state legislature, could sign a reproductive health act (RHA) this year. Among other actions, the act … [Read more...]
2013’s March for Life: C’mon, Libertarians!
Dan Smyth | January 15, 2013
With 2013’s March for Life in Washington, D.C., approaching on January 25th, I ask: Will many libertarians attend? A recent Cato Institute study said 37% of libertarians are pro-life, versus 31% of Democrats, 45% of independents, and 68% of Republicans. Many libertarians believe the false claims … [Read more...]
O Hobby Lobby, Art Thou a Religious Employer?
Dan Smyth | January 3, 2013
Last week, Hobby Lobby, a Christian-owned chain, said it will defy the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)' contraception/abortifacient mandate. The owners, who oppose abortifacients but not contraceptives, claim that the abortifacient part of the mandate violates the owners' and … [Read more...]
Miss Venezuela’s Answer: Conservatism or Libertarianism?
Dan Smyth | December 23, 2012
During last Wednesday’s Miss Universe 2012 competition in Las Vegas, a judge asked Miss Venezuela Irene Sofia Esser Quintero, "If you could make a new law, what would it be?" To many news outlets' amusement, Miss Venezuela, whose second language is English, gave the following answer: I think … [Read more...]
Liberty Blog’s Top 10 Articles in 2012
In April 2012, we launched LibertyBlog.org (LB) to allow more citizen journalists to promote liberty. Since then, we have published such insightful articles as the following: Dustin Siggins’ Senator Rand Paul: Bringing Sanity to Congress’ Voting Process Paul Wilson’s Forced to Be Free Mark … [Read more...]
Dear O’Brien: The Free Exercise Clause and Professing Catholicism
Dan Smyth | December 10, 2012
Is the contraception/abortifacient mandate, brought to us by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), doomed? Last week, a U.S. federal appeals court, in an order involving O'Brien Industrial Holdings v. HHS, spared O'Brien, a Catholic employer, from the HHS mandate for the appeal's … [Read more...]
