Off Topic: SOPA - What's POTENTIALLY At Stake

[spclark]

Take a moment & follow this link to an explanation of what could be at stake next week when the US Senate votes on SOPA - the Stop Online Piracy Act.

http://capwiz.com/gunowners/issues/alert/?alertid=60412501

Some members of the US Congress are looking to enact legislation that could enable anti-gun proponents (like the Brady Campaign) to shut down firearm-related websites like this one.

One only has to look at the list of Congressmen who support this legislation to learn what side of the line they position themselves on:

http://projects.propublica.org/sopa/

Check into H.R. 3261 and S. 968 & what they might mean if passed into law:

"H.R. 3261 and S. 968 would potentially empower the Brady Campaign and Eric Holder to go after our Internet site. To do so, they would have to make the same frivolous arguments and engage in the same lawless activity that they have done so often in the past." Quoted from the Gun Owners of America website: gunowners.org

 

[Flybuster]

It's my understanding, or at least what I've been reading even forums like these can be shut down if someone posts a link directing to a site with copyrighted material.

I don't know what will happen to sites like youtube, google and facebook where there is tons of copyrighted material accessible.

The big entertainment companies are pushing for this and it just gives big brother another reason to have more control.

*This message has been censored by the FCC*

 

[Killshot]

If you use the internet and appreciate the information available to you, this is BAD legislation.

It's under discussion in the House. Call your Representative and tell them you oppose the Stop Online Piracy Act/SOPA. Copyright violation needs to be addressed but this is using a chainsaw to trim a toenail.

The worst part? Even if passed it wouldn't stop online "piracy"........

 

[timbertoes]

with copyrighted material.

correction: with Stolen/No permission, etc., copyrighted material

 

[timbertoes]

chainsaw on a toenail sounds about right.

 

[Flybuster]

with copyrighted material.

correction: with Stolen/No permission, etc., copyrighted material

I don't like being corrected....but you're right

The bill aims at targeting sites who facilitate the distribution of illegally copied materials aka "pirated" music, software, movies (maybe e-books?).

Some are even speculating music covers of other artists songs will be banned material.

But the bill is vaguely written enough this could include: a radio song playing in the background of your video.

There will people who argue either way, those who say: "if your dong nothing wrong you don't have to worry"; but it appears now even the "last frontier of freedom" will be tamed, censored and gagged leaving our first amendment in the dust. The big media already already controls information via newspapers, television, movies now they want the net, there certainly is an agenda behind this besides "stopping piracy" IMO.

That bit linked in the OP sounds a bit paranoid, I don't seem to follow how the Brady Campaign is going to or potentially target gun sites through this legislation? Are they even mentioned in the bill?

 

[Rookie]

This was listed "Off Topic" but contend it is "The Topic of most importance"!!!
Write, Email, Call all of your elected officials and let them know this must NOT be passed!!

 

[spclark]

That bit linked in the OP sounds a bit paranoid, I don't seem to follow how the Brady Campaign is going to or potentially target gun sites through this legislation? Are they even mentioned in the bill?

Not specifically no, but I for one would hesitate giving them any more tools with which to obfuscate our position.

Nor would I ever want to see Eric Holder empowered with yet more authority to trod upon the 1st Amendment.

 

[Flybuster]

That bit linked in the OP sounds a bit paranoid, I don't seem to follow how the Brady Campaign is going to or potentially target gun sites through this legislation? Are they even mentioned in the bill?

Not specifically no, but I for one would hesitate giving them any more tools with which to obfuscate our position.

Nor would I ever want to see Eric Holder empowered with yet more authority to trod upon the 1st Amendment.

I hear your loud and clear; its a slippery slope. Next thing you know we will have internet restrictions like China, to me that's scary. Its too bad people don't seem to care, if they did there would be more replies. Either way, not much you can do; does writing your congressmen actually help or do they only listen to lobbyist? I am encouraged to see that more of congress is currently opposing the bill at the moment, maybe they are listening?

Thanks for passing the word along, some people on here may not have heard about this yet.

 

[spclark]

Either way, not much you can do; does writing your congressmen actually help or do they only listen to lobbyist? I am encouraged to see that more of congress is currently opposing the bill at the moment, maybe they are listening?

I don't know for sure that getting your position known to your Congressmen helps, but I DO know that doing nothing at all gives a boost to our opposition.

My letters went out today... maybe my arguement will be the one to turn Dick Durbin's vote around?

 

[Flybuster]

Either way, not much you can do; does writing your congressmen actually help or do they only listen to lobbyist? I am encouraged to see that more of congress is currently opposing the bill at the moment, maybe they are listening?

I don't know for sure that getting your position known to your Congressmen helps, but I DO know that doing nothing at all gives a boost to our opposition.

My letters went out today... maybe my arguement will be the one to turn Dick Durbin's vote around?

I'm in Oregon all my representative oppose this fascist bill. I can't write letters to other congressmen because i am not their constituent.

Other bills that override constitution/Bill of Rights such as the National Defense Authorization act have recently been passed; Which overrides Posse Comitatus the use of military on US soil/citizens. Next we have the Enemy Expatriate Act: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzpr7bL1Iw4[/youtube]
This strips your US citizenship if your deemed a "threat" towards the US goverment. Interpret this how you want, but lets not tread these fine lines. There is already enough laws on the books.

 

[Killshot]

Apparently, if enough people scream loud enough they just might still listen to us...

Congress has shelved the Bill.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/20/reid-postpones-vote-on-anti-piracy-bill-amid-backlash/?test=latestnews

 

[Flybuster]

Apparently, if enough people scream loud enough they just might still listen to us...

Congress has shelved the Bill.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/20/reid-postpones-vote-on-anti-piracy-bill-amid-backlash/?test=latestnews

Great, I was starting to lose my faith in the system. They proved yesterday they don't need SOPA to shut down piracy sites anyways, they shut down MegaUpload which was even hosted in another country. If they would just use the laws they have instead of creating new ones.

Much of the movies people are pirating aren't worth buying anyways, so I'm sure their loss figures are highly inflated due to the fact that people wouldn't purchase them if it cost them anything.

http://i.imgur.com/5PMtb.jpg

 

[ChipEckardt]

It is a very good thing it has been at least delayed...but these folks will never go away. I am 100% against stealing anything, but the music industry has never figured out that their business model has to change. Rent music, tie to other services, etc. the same think is starting to happen with TV. Internet is already making inroads to kill it. There are only so many commercials people will put up with and people want to watch when they do, not when TV stations decide to air a program. TiVo and DVR recordered were the first step. There is money to be made if you have the right (and LEGAL) model.

Chip

 

[Flybuster]

It is a very good thing it has been at least delayed...but these folks will never go away. I am 100% against stealing anything, but the music industry has never figured out that their business model has to change. Rent music, tie to other services, etc. the same think is starting to happen with TV. Internet is already making inroads to kill it. There are only so many commercials people will put up with and people want to watch when they do, not when TV stations decide to air a program. TiVo and DVR recordered were the first step. There is money to be made if you have the right (and LEGAL) model.

Chip

You definitely got that right Chip. I see they have another bill which is under the guise of protecting children from the dangers of the internet. Seems reasonable right? It only tracks your internet history and makes it easily accessible to the gov. That includes your banking and spending. You don't have to worry if you're not doing anything wrong right? Gimmie a break, human beings deserve a degree of privacy. This is all in the name of security; if we do everything possible to make ourselves more secure we will soon have no freedom.

Here's a link to an article discussing H.R. 1981: http://www.slashgear.com/sopa-sponsor-has-another-internet-bill-that-records-you-247-20210264/