Free speech means free speech. It does not mean free speech some of the time or for certain people or at specific times of the year.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 40 of the Maryland Constitution, which Examiner Editor Frank Keegan quotes on the next page, clearly and concisely grant the right, which our founders and generations of American soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen have heroically defended.
Members of the Baltimore County Council have access to both texts. Even so, six of the seven members showed a complete lack of understanding of them by voting Monday to limit the amount of time citizens can post campaign signs on private property to 45 days prior to an election. Only Councilman Joe Bartenfelder, D-District 6, voted against the bill.
Thankfully, council members did not also vote to limit the size or quantity of the signs, as initially proposed by the bill?s sponsor, Kevin Kamenetz, D-District 2. But the fact that they considered the law worthy of debate means they will willingly trample on one of our most sacred values ? and laws ? when it?s politically expedient.
The State Highway Administration also restricts campaign signs on private property to 45 days prior to an election.
It?s odd that those charged with ensuring the safety of our roads also regulate our speech. But David Buck, the SHA spokesman, said the agency has no authority to enforce the law. That begs the question of why local governments can.
What?s next? Will the council limit how people can decorate their homes for the holidays? What about bumper stickers? Or ban Baltimore County drivers from slapping campaign stickers on their vehicles?
Perhaps the saving grace in the law is that it only applies to candidate-approved signs.
So the law of unintended consequences says Baltimore County candidates may not approve any signs next election season to skirt the restriction.
Kamenetz labels the signs as ugly and claims they could potentially cause traffic accidents. Both assertions may be true but that does not give him or other council members the right to repeal the First Amendment or Maryland law.
Encourage Kamenetz to sponsor a bill to overturn the law by contacting him at [email protected] or 410-887-3385.
