NC Legislator Hopping Mad About Teh Internets

(Action item at end of post)

I’m not sure what NC Senator Rev. Steve Goss (D-NC45) read about himself online, but he’s ready to put the fear of the Lord and the Law into anyone who says something impolitic on the internet.  Mtn X:

A newly introduced Internet Libel Act in the N.C. Senate — SB 46 — would make it a potential civil and criminal (Class 2 misdemeanor) offense for libelous or slanderous material to originate in the state or be received or viewed in the state via the Internet. The bill, which has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, was filed by WNC’s Sen. Steve Goss, an ordained Baptist minister from Boone who is serving his second term in the General Assembly.
[...]
The News & Observer’s political “Under the Dome” blog reported that Goss — despite the bill’s text — said inclusion of criminal penalties was “an oversight.” His quoted rationale in filing the bill: “We need to make sure that we’re keeping up with technology,” he said. “I believe these blogs are getting out of control.”

It’s hard to believe that the good Reverend sponsored a bill called, “Internet Libel /Civil and Crim. Offense”, without knowing that it had criminal penalties in it. It’s not hard to believe that Raleigh legislators want to clamp down on the power of internet users. The bill isn’t specifically targeting bloggers, instead casting a much wider net, “The Internet and any computerized or electronic information service. The term includes a bulletin board, a network, an online service, electronic mail, a forum, a blog, or a news group.” The bill would also be retroactive to December 9, 2008.

Cosponsors of the bill are Austin M. Allran (R-NC42);  Stan Bingham (R-NC33);  Don Davis (D-NC05);  W. Edward (Eddie) Goodall (R-NC35);  Ed Jones (D-NC04);  Richard Stevens (R-NC17);  Jerry W. Tillman (R-NC29)

I wondered might get Rev. Goss all upset about the internet.  Then I realized that our blogcompatriot over at Watauga Watch might have posted a time or two about him.  He sure has.  Here’s something from Monday:

“We here at your local conservative blog are going to be starting a new monthly feature on our site that will be dedicated to pointing out and critiquing all the frivolous deeds Senator Steve Goss performs while he represents us in the North Carolina General Assembly.  Due to the propensity of Democrats like Senator Goss to commit these perpetual acts of silliness on a regular basis the feature should have plenty of material to draw from until he is defeated for re-election in 2010. “

Gosh. I wonder why Goss doesn’t like the internet?

Write or call your Senator to tell them that legislators need to keep their mitts off our free speech.

Martin Nesbitt – martinn@ncleg.net – (919) 715-3001
John Snow – Johnsn@ncleg.net – (919) 733-5875