Gary Peck: Answer to speech we don’t like is more speech
In an interview on KNPR this week, former ACLU executive director Gary Peck, above, eloquently explained the importance of free speech and the danger of letting government have any power over speech rights.
Several times during his interview with Dave Berns on “State of Nevada,” he made the point that the answer to speech one does not like is not censorship but more speech. Over the years Peck has in fact upheld the principle that one should not limit speech based on its content. The Nevada ACLU has defended so-called smut peddlers, and worse — politicians.
Peck pointed out that his favorite ACLU lawsuit was one challenging what we derisively called the “truth squad” set up by the Legislature to punish people it believed to have lied during political campaigns. The defendants were Chris Giunchigliani and Bob Beers. She, one of the state’s more liberal Democrats. He, one of the state’s most conservative Republicans.
