Free Speech Issue

The Dallas Morning News issued an editorial yesterday regarding freedom of speech and whether or not pictures on a license plate are protected under those laws. The author is 5th Circuit Judge, Jerry E. Smith who was the only dissenting vote to not allow a confederate flag on a license plate under free speech laws. He is a credible source because he is a judge and reviewed the case. The target audience of this editorial is Texas citizens and tax payers.  

Jerry E. Smith believes that the federal court was wrong in not letting Texas ban the Confederate flag picture from specialized license plates. Even though the first amendment depicts that Americans have the freedom of speech and can have any viewpoint they want, Smith believes that the license plate is state property and not open to free speech requirements, unlike the rest of the car that could have any emblem or symbols displayed. Since the license plates are manufactured by the state of Texas, Smith thinks a picture in support of people who wanted to separate from the United States of America should not be allowed. People have the right to do as they wish with pictures of the Confederate flag but having the state manufacture them is wrong in the eyes of Smith. It is pointed out that there are other licenses plates with emblems honoring veterans from other wars but Smith voted against the other judges because the Confederate veterans were fighting against our country and not for it.

I am on the side of Jerry E. Smith when it comes to letting the state ban the Confederate flag picture from license plates because license plates are paid for by taxpayers. The emblem is highly offensive to many people and taxpayers are paying for this to be on license plates when they in no way want to be a part of a picture supporting slavery. I don't think license plates should have the Confederate flag emblem on it because it makes people feel like Texas is supporting the Confederate views.