Never mind the First Amendment, what about Article 1, Section 9?
When a Carson City Judge earlier this month ruled against the Virginia-based Alliance for America’s Future for failing to get a permit to run political ads in support of gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval, the judge repeatedly stated the group’s First Amendment rights were not abridged. He even mentioned the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits states from denying, well, privileges and immunities of American citizens.
Judge James Wilson Jr. quoted from Supreme Court rulings, including, “The right of citizens to inquire, to hear, to speak, and to use information to reach consensus is a precondition to enlightened self-government and a necessary means to protect it.”
Nowhere could I find a reference to Article 1, Section 9.
Not in the U.S. Constitution, but the Nevada Constitution.
“Article 1, Section 9: Liberty of speech and the press. Every citizen may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press.”
A law requiring prior registration with the secretary of state might be construed as a restraint and/or abridgement.
