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By John Zmirak, a Senior Editor, The Stream, August 9, 2019

The left’s dream scenario is close to coming true. They’re on the verge of making political opposition to their goals a de facto hate crime. Of casting conservatism and orthodox Christianity as “extremist” views that are inherently violent. That would leave them unprotected by the First Amendment, undefended by the Second. Leftist elites hope to pull off this sleight of mind by smooshing together utterly unlike things, then counting on people’s fear to suppress their rational faculties.

Media have stoked a the-Reichstag-is-burning-let’s-suspend-the-Constitution! moral panic in the wake of appalling mass shootings. Some have called for the FBI to investigate any organization they can possibly tar as “racist” or “extremist.” To treat them as we did al Qaeda affiliates (but not ordinary mosques) in the wake of 9/11.

Silence and Disarm Half the Country

At the same time, the left and squishy, unprincipled right promote Red Flag laws. Those would give every nosy neighbor or old enemy the power to annul any citizen’s Second Amendment rights with a single phone call. Then he must prove he is not a psychopath or extremist, at his own expense. ….

Read more at  stream.org