For those of you who don’t know what the title is refering to allow me to enlighten you.

The H.R. 347 Bill deals with the act of protest. The bill states clearly that whoever,

• knowingly enters or remains in any restricted building

  or grounds without lawful authority to do so;

• knowingly, and with intent to impede or disrupt the

  orderly conduct of Government business or official functions,

  engages in disorderly or disruptive conduct in, or within such

  proximity to, any restricted building or grounds when, or so

  that, such conduct, in fact, impedes or disrupts the orderly

  conduct of Government business or official functions;

• knowingly, and with the intent to impede or disrupt

  the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions,

  obstructs or impedes ingress or egress to or from any restricted

  building or grounds; or

• knowingly engages in any act of physical violence

  against any person or property in any restricted building or

  grounds;

  or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be punished…

The punishment? It amounts to ten years in prison and/or a fine. This bill was signed by President Barack Obama on March 10th, 2012. The reason that I had not found out about this particular bill sooner is still unknown. But looking back I cannot seem to recall hearing about it well, anywhere.

Many people believe that the bill will have a tremendous effect on the first amendment that outlines free speech. To be perfectly honest I would have to say that I agree, yet not so much on that scale. My main concern is the possibility of misuse and injustice this bill may bring to peaceful protests of any size if the government isn’t to keen on what we have to say. I doubt that the bill will have a significant effect in the near future but it may well be a step in the wrong direction.

To conclude, I would like to ask all of you to read the bill for yourselves and post your opinions here.