Re:An Unprecedented Attack on Press Freedom
by krapp on Saturday October 03, 2020 @03:01PM
(#24673966)
It doesn't specify either way, that's the problem. It's not a modern legal document with precise terms defined, it's written in sometimes intentionally vague 18th century prose, so either interpretation is equally valid as far as the text alone is concerned.
Re:An Unprecedented Attack on Press Freedom
by ncmncm on Saturday October 03, 2020 @04:45PM
(#24674542)
If it says "citizen" in one place, and "person" in another where it could as easily have said "citizen", elementary logic dictates that "person" does not imply "citizen". Saying otherwise is a brazen attempt to muddy clear water.
The framers were not stupid. They knew what they were writing. If they had meant "citizen", they knew how to write it.
Re:An Unprecedented Attack on Press Freedom
by krapp on Saturday October 03, 2020 @05:08PM
(#24674682)
"The framers weren't stupid lol" isn't a compelling argument.
Show me documentary evidence or legal precedent from the time demonstrating that intent on the part of the framers, or else you're just projecting.
After all, apparently everyone was wrong about what "well regulated militia" actually meant until 2008. So it must not all be as crystal clear and elementary as you claim.
Re:An Unprecedented Attack on Press Freedom
by ncmncm on Saturday October 03, 2020 @05:50PM
(#24674930)
Muddying the water has been a successful strategy for lawyers for millennia. That does not make it less reprehensible to do, nor justify being fooled by it.
Re:An Unprecedented Attack on Press Freedom
by DiogenesKynikos on Sunday October 04, 2020 @04:37AM
(#24677322)
There were a lot of lawyers among the framers. They didn't choose the wording of something as important as the First Amendment randomly.
Where in the Constitution does it state that its language should be read as exclusive of non-US persons unless explicitly stated otherwise?