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David Barton, well-known Liar for Jesus and pseudo-historian, apparently believes his speech and that of others who have the same religious beliefs as his is more protected than ordinary, non-religious speech.
Those who are familiar with Barton and his ravings will know that Barton is only speaking of his specific version of Christianity when he is talking about "religion."
David Barton Claims Constitution Gives Him ‘More Protection’ Because He’s Religious
“Secular speech is protected by the Constitution,” Barton said, “but religious speech has several protections in the First Amendment.”
Barton said that while everyone has a right to free speech, religious speech and expression are “protected by three clauses,” which means that his speech is entitled to “more protection, if you will, than just normal, secular speech.”
He insisted that the idea that secular speech or expression should receive the same protections as religious speech or expression is unconstitutional because “that’s not what the First Amendment gave me.”
“It gave me more protection because I get my speech but if it’s religious, I get it twice, and if it is religious with others, I get it three times,” Barton claimed. “In addition to free speech, there is also free exercise of religion, which often involves free speech. For me to exercise my faith means I will speak about it, I will live it out, I will activate it, I will do it. And, by the way, I have the right to assembly, so I can get together with other believers and we can act out our faith … While religious folks have at least three different forms of protection under the First Amendment for their speech, secular folks have their protections as well for speech and assembly, but they just don’t have the same religious motivations.”
When Barton’s son, Tim, tried to clarify that all citizens “have the exact same protections that a religious person does,” Barton disputed that assessment.
Those who are familiar with Barton and his ravings will know that Barton is only speaking of his specific version of Christianity when he is talking about "religion."