law Archives | Page 4 of 4 | ARI HERZOG
Iran Mulls Death for Bloggers as Massachusetts Blasphemy is Not Enforced
Jul. 13, 2008 By Ari Herzog
If you don’t want to be killed by the death penalty for owning a website or blog that promotes corruption or prostitution, don’t move to Iran.
The Iranian parliament is considering legislation that would apply capital punishment for online criminals, not just rapists, armed robbers, and people who go religion shopping and desert Islam. [Via A Stitch in Haste and Khaleej Times Online]
As of yesterday, UAE journalism students indicated 19 members of the Majlis have shown support for the bill but 129 votes are needed for passage.
Closer to home, did you know religious blasphemy is illegal not just in Iran but also under Massachusetts General Law?
Chapter 272, Section 36:
I looked up the word contumeliously.
I’m not surprised. Two years ago, the Boston Phoenix researched several current state laws that are rarely, if ever, enforced.
If you’re still following along, the last time the law was invoked was 1833.
Abner Kneeland was convicted on five counts of blasphemy, branded an atheist, and subsequently jailed for saying: “I believe that in the abstract, all is God.”
God bless the separation of church and state.
Wait, I said “God bless.” Will I be jailed?
Filed Under: Old Tagged With: law
May. 28, 2008 By Ari Herzog
William White got off with a light sentence in 2003. If he committed vehicular homicide today, he’d serve a minimum five years in state prison. Fortunate for him, Melanie’s Law wasn’t around then.
The West Newbury teens issued summons for underage drinking last week don’t have it so easy if, say, after several red plastic cups’ worth of beer, someone got behind the wheel, drove away, and killed an innocent person. Any teen, heck, any adult, can say he or she is responsible and would never be caught in that situation. But if it happened to Billy White, it can happen to anyone with stiffer punishment today.
Newburyport police arrested 42 individuals for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor in calendar year 2005, the most recent time period I could find online. Six people were also arrested for a second offense the same year. [Source]
I don’t think, though am not entirely sure, if any of the OUI drivers engaged in vehicular homicide or manslaughter.
Reacting to recent comments from Daily News readers about alcohol-related stories, such as 200-or-so comments responding to White’s parole violation sentencing, may I suggest that the paper follow an example set by Quincy-based daily newspaper, The Patriot Ledger, with their column, The Drunken Driver Record which highlights the names of individuals charged with operating under the influence. Considering the numerous communities published by the Eagle Tribune Publishing Co., I can see the usefulness of such a column on whichever frequency works best.
How come none of those 199 comments mention Melanie’s Law? This year marks the 3-year anniversary of the landmark legislation; Fox25 viewers respond.
On a happier note, check out Northampton resident F. Alex Johnson’s blog, Fearless by Default. He began the blog on January 1, 2008, four days after he was arrested, at the age of 37, for his second OUI since 1989. He’s off to a good start.
Councillor Conflict
Apr. 15, 2008 By Ari Herzog
Neither Greg Earls nor Tom O’Brien attended a conflict of interest seminar I organized last December. In fact, none of the re-elected incumbent City Council members attended. The new folks from both the council and the School Committee showed up: Ed Cameron, Nick deKanter, Kathleen O’Connor Ives, and Stephanie Weaver for sure; I don’t remember if Brian Derrivan was there.
My point in bringing up a 4-month-old public meeting that was led by a municipal education specialist with the state Ethics Commission revolves around something that occurred at tonight’s City Council meeting.
Or, rather, something that did not occur.
This story begins with Earls, who requested Communication #2 be removed from the consent agenda. So moved, so seconded, so approved. During subsequent deliberations, Earls said a relative worked at Oregano Pizzeria so he felt it worthy to recuse himself from the vote.
Nice man, recusing himself.
But if he understood the conflict of interest law, he’d recognize that the law involves not just individual statements but the appearance as well. He should have stood and left the room during any possible deliberation and vote. He did neither, and while there was no deliberation, there was a vote when he said, “present,” as if that excuses his remaining in the room.
At least he didn’t deliberate, something that former City Councillor Audrey McCarthy constantly did on issues involving the police department despite her husband’s employment in the department.
But back to the present. Earls was the first conflict.
During a different part of the meeting, while the council debated approving re-appointments for the director and deputy director of the Department of Public Services to be special police officers, O’Brien wondered aloud whether Andrew Lafferty, the fairly-new deputy director of the department, ought to be re-appointed or merely appointed as it’s his first employment in the city.
Fair enough question, but as O’Brien’s daughter works for the department, there is a clear conflict there. He should have said nothing. Steve Hutcheson sat next to him, so all O’Brien had to do was scribble a note and Hutcheson could have made the comment.
But it’s not all bad news: Toward the end of the meeting, Earls deserves credit for asking councillors to email him questions about some issue but stressed they should not engage in commentary or discussions in email; just questions.
law Archives | Page 4 of 4 | ARI HERZOG
Iran Mulls Death for Bloggers as Massachusetts Blasphemy is Not Enforced
Jul. 13, 2008 By Ari Herzog
If you don’t want to be killed by the death penalty for owning a website or blog that promotes corruption or prostitution, don’t move to Iran.
The Iranian parliament is considering legislation that would apply capital punishment for online criminals, not just rapists, armed robbers, and people who go religion shopping and desert Islam. [Via A Stitch in Haste and Khaleej Times Online]
As of yesterday, UAE journalism students indicated 19 members of the Majlis have shown support for the bill but 129 votes are needed for passage.
Closer to home, did you know religious blasphemy is illegal not just in Iran but also under Massachusetts General Law?
Chapter 272, Section 36:
I looked up the word contumeliously.
I’m not surprised. Two years ago, the Boston Phoenix researched several current state laws that are rarely, if ever, enforced.
If you’re still following along, the last time the law was invoked was 1833.
Abner Kneeland was convicted on five counts of blasphemy, branded an atheist, and subsequently jailed for saying: “I believe that in the abstract, all is God.”
God bless the separation of church and state.
Wait, I said “God bless.” Will I be jailed?
Filed Under: Old Tagged With: law
May. 28, 2008 By Ari Herzog
William White got off with a light sentence in 2003. If he committed vehicular homicide today, he’d serve a minimum five years in state prison. Fortunate for him, Melanie’s Law wasn’t around then.
The West Newbury teens issued summons for underage drinking last week don’t have it so easy if, say, after several red plastic cups’ worth of beer, someone got behind the wheel, drove away, and killed an innocent person. Any teen, heck, any adult, can say he or she is responsible and would never be caught in that situation. But if it happened to Billy White, it can happen to anyone with stiffer punishment today.
Newburyport police arrested 42 individuals for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor in calendar year 2005, the most recent time period I could find online. Six people were also arrested for a second offense the same year. [Source]
I don’t think, though am not entirely sure, if any of the OUI drivers engaged in vehicular homicide or manslaughter.
Reacting to recent comments from Daily News readers about alcohol-related stories, such as 200-or-so comments responding to White’s parole violation sentencing, may I suggest that the paper follow an example set by Quincy-based daily newspaper, The Patriot Ledger, with their column, The Drunken Driver Record which highlights the names of individuals charged with operating under the influence. Considering the numerous communities published by the Eagle Tribune Publishing Co., I can see the usefulness of such a column on which
ever frequency works best.
How come none of those 199 comments mention Melanie’s Law? This year marks the 3-year anniversary of the landmark legislation; Fox25 viewers respond.
On a happier note, check out Northampton resident F. Alex Johnson’s blog, Fearless by Default. He began the blog on January 1, 2008, four days after he was arrested, at the age of 37, for his second OUI since 1989. He’s off to a good start.
Councillor Conflict
Apr. 15, 2008 By Ari Herzog
Neither Greg Earls nor Tom O’Brien attended a conflict of interest seminar I organized last December. In fact, none of the re-elected incumbent City Council members attended. The new folks from both the council and the School Committee showed up: Ed Cameron, Nick deKanter, Kathleen O’Connor Ives, and Stephanie Weaver for sure; I don’t remember if Brian Derrivan was there.
My point in bringing up a 4-month-old public meeting that was led by a municipal education specialist with the state Ethics Commission revolves around something that occurred at tonight’s City Council meeting.
Or, rather, something that did not occur.
This story begins with Earls, who requested Communication #2 be removed from the consent agenda. So moved, so seconded, so approved. During subsequent deliberations, Earls said a relative worked at Oregano Pizzeria so he felt it worthy to recuse himself from the vote.
Nice man, recusing himself.
But if he understood the conflict of interest law, he’d recognize that the law involves not just individual statements but the appearance as well. He should have stood and left the room during any possible deliberation and vote. He did neither, and while there was no deliberation, there was a vote when he said, “present,” as if that excuses his remaining in the room.
At least he didn’t deliberate, something that former City Councillor Audrey McCarthy constantly did on issues involving the police department despite her husband’s employment in the department.
But back to the present. Earls was the first conflict.
During a different part of the meeting, while the council debated approving re-appointments for the director and deputy director of the Department of Public Services to be special police officers, O’Brien wondered aloud whether Andrew Lafferty, the fairly-new deputy director of the department, ought to be re-appointed or merely appointed as it’s his first employment in the city.
Fair enough question, but as O’Brien’s daughter works for the department, there is a clear conflict there. He should have said nothing. Steve Hutcheson sat next to him, so all O’Brien had to do was scribble a note and Hutcheson could have made the comment.
But it’s not all bad news: Toward the end of the meeting, Earls deserves credit for asking councillors to email him questions about some issue but stressed they should not engage in commentary or discussions in email; just questions.