Exceptions To The First Amendment Essay

Taqwa Alqassir
Professor Dennis Daniels
Comp 106, Sec 011
30 January 2014

Exceptions to the First Amendment
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizens freedom of religion, speech, writing and publishing, peaceful assembly, and the freedom to raise protests with the Government. Without the First Amendment, protesters could be harmed or jailed, minorities may be mistreated, a nationwide religion may be enforced, and citizens would not be able to voice their opinions on what the government is doing. However, even though the first amendment grants freedom to people’s choices, it is yet limited.
There are many exceptions to the first amendment in which limits a citizens abilities to practicing freedom of religion and speech. Yelling “fire” in a movie theater, for example, is illegal and an exception to the first amendment. Speech that intends or causes harm is also an exception to the first amendment. Sutlaana Freeman, for instance, is a Muslim American in the state of Florida decided to wear a veil across her face. When going to take a photo for her driver’s license, she was asked to remove her veil, as the state of Florida requires a fully uncovered face for an ID photo. Freeman refused arguing that the first amendment’s freedom of religion allows her to practice her religion. After fighting the state of Florida for her “religious rights”, the state declared that an ID photo must fully reveal a person’s face for easy identification and for safety. (Barnet 9). In this case, the safety of the people surmounted the religious rights of one person. These exceptions are enforced to increase the safety of the people and to prevent conflict among people and government.
There are many people who do not fully understand...

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...na, for example, is practiced in many religions throughout the world, but is illegal in the United States. Referring back to Sultaana Freeman, veils for identification photos are forbidden, even though in other countries it may be permissible. These exceptions are chiefly for the safety for the people, for their health, and for protection against violence that may erupt as consequence.
The first amendment is arguably the most important part of the constitution. It grants the citizens of the United States freedom and rights. It is responsible for establishing America as the land of the free, and it is what separates America from other countries. However, the first amendment also has many exceptions. These exceptions are primarily for the safety of the people and government. Nevertheless, many still choose to challenge the meaning and wording of the first amendment.