sje46 t1_j84dnfg wrote on February 11, 2023 at 3:19 PM

Reply to comment by starhoppers in Bakery Owner Sues [Conway] New Hampshire Town After Officials Demand He Paint Over Donut Mural Made by High Schoolers by ArbitraryOrder

I can understand how if the law is repealed, it could have unwanted consequences. But...is Conway really at risk of that? Billboards are pretty uncommon in NH as it is. I can't see people putting up billboards in the middle of nowhere.

And regardless of negative consequences anyway, I also don't see how it isn't a violation of the first amendment to make a law against putting up any sort of advertisement on land you own. Doesn't matter if it's a charming donut shop sign or ugly billboard for a strip club.

cwalton505 t1_j84unqf wrote on February 11, 2023 at 5:16 PM

They're not at risk and they can completely alter the wording however they want. But that's the process, rewrite the law if you want it changed

sje46 t1_j84wzb0 wrote on February 11, 2023 at 5:32 PM

Sure but does it not count as a first amendment violation?

cwalton505 t1_j8510ds wrote on February 11, 2023 at 5:59 PM

I don't think that advertising for ones business is covered under the free speech amendment. There are sign laws everywhere, and if sign laws were a violation we would have seen it in the supreme court by now.

sje46 t1_j8520d1 wrote on February 11, 2023 at 6:06 PM

The linked article references many such cases, although I don't think they went to the Supreme Court. The fact that these cases didn't go to the supreme court, if anything, indicates that these laws were clearly unconstitutional and therefore didn't need to go that far.

Anyways, the supreme court has addressed freedom of speech laws as relates to billboards, such as this example last year. That case is not relevant to this case, ofc, since this bakery sign is not digital. Also, I'm not a constituional lawyer. I'm just asking questions about this because I'm genuinely curious.

cat-gun t1_j8528wp wrote on February 11, 2023 at 6:07 PM

Lot's of laws existed for decades before they were struck down as unconstitutional. What really matters is whether there is a culture of liberty, where people respect the free speech of others. I want to live in a state with a culture of liberty.