Civil liberties headlines for October 27, 2008

October 27, 11:57 AMCivil Liberties ExaminerJ.D. Tuccille

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From free speech to gun rights, below are news headlines involving outrages, developments and occasional victories that may be of interest to people who care about personal liberty, all gathered in one place.

Turnout could affect same-sex marriage bans
Turnout at the election polls may sink or save efforts to deny same-sex couples the right to marry. While enthusiastic Obama supporters are generally assumed to support gay marriage, many African-Americans are socially conservative opponents.

A Line in the Sand for Same-Sex Marriage Foes
While the battle over same-sex marriage has been all but invisible in the presidential race this year, it is raging like a wind-whipped wildfire in California.

Gun Sales Thriving Despite Tough Economy
Purchases of firearms and ammunition have risen 8 to 10 percent this year, according to state and federal data. Several variables drive sales, but many dealers, buyers and experts attribute the increase in part to concerns about the economy and fears that if Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois wins the presidency, he will join with fellow Democrats in Congress to enact new gun controls.

Galvanizing the gun vote
The group is spending $40 million nationwide this election season to tell its 4 million members — and tens of millions more gun owners — Obama would be the most anti-gun president in history.

South Dakota to reconsider vote on abortion ban
Two years ago, South Dakota voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed ban on abortions that proponents had hoped would set up a Supreme Court showdown over Roe vs. Wade. Next month, the state ballot will include another abortion ban with similar goals -- but observers say this one is far more likely to pass.

Democrats Carrying Anti-Abortion Banner Put More Congressional Races in Play
Democrats have discovered an important tactic for improving their electoral prospects: abandoning their traditional support for reproductive rights.

Internet giants respond to free speech critics
Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have received much criticism for their business practices in nations like China that restrict free speech. Now, they are finally responding with a voluntary code of conduct.

Gag Me with a Law
In a period of unprecedented access to information, the First Amendment rights of freedom of the press and freedom of speech are in danger, warns A Manifesto for Media Freedom. The rapid development of media types and venues has prompted both new and revived attempts to control them, and in growing numbers policymakers, nonprofits, and pundits are advocating regulation of radio, television, the Internet, and other media.

Dozens arrested at weekend checkpoints
A drunken-driving task force arrested 30 drivers Saturday night and Sunday morning in Wilmington, many from the Halloween Loop, police said. The task force stopped 658 vehicles that came through the checkpoints.

Valley Park restricts eminent domain to public purposes
By a vote of 5-3, the Valley Park Board of Aldermen approved final reading of legislation that will limit the city's use of eminent domain to public purposes only, banning its use for private gain. Some aldermen unsuccessfully tried to change the legislation so that each property in an area proposed for blighting would have had to satisfy the state definition of blighting.

County pursues medicinal marijuana case
Despite batting .000 against a lineup of lawyers and judges across California, San Diego County is pressing its long-shot lawsuit against state medical marijuana laws toward the U.S. Supreme Court.

'Joe the Plumber's' privacy compromised on government computers
Government computers in Ohio may been used to illegally access personal information about Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, otherwise known as "Joe the Plumber".

Contact J.D.: civilliberties (at) tuccille.com