Eugene Volokh on Gun Rights, Free Expression, and the Nanny State

Reason.tv's Ted Balaker sat down with Eugene Volokh, professor of law at the UCLA School of Law and founder of The Volokh Conspiracy, to discuss gun rights, free expression, and the Nanny State.

Find out what Volokh thinks the biggest threats to free expression are, and whether today's muzzlers come mostly from the left or right. Volokh also explains what the landmark Supreme Court case, DC vs. Heller, has done to gun control and whether he agrees with the "more guns, less crime" thesis.

Other topics include: media bias and gun rights, Alabama's prohibition on selling sex toys, and whether judges can be nannies.



Interview by Ted Balaker. Shot by Alex Manning and Hawk Jensen. Edited by Paul Detrick.



Approximately nine-and-a-half minutes.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• reason.tv
• reason.com
• reason.org
• reason magazine
• eugene volokh
• volokh conspiracy
• heller
• gun rights
• second amendment
• free speech
• first amendment
• ucla
• media bias

[whoo689]

A libertarian law professor? sweet!

[LiberalViewer]

I'm giving this video 5 stars and adding it to my favorites.

Because I'm a "liberal libertarian," I sometimes disagree with Prof. Volokh's "conservative libertarianism," but I've still been a fan of his blog for years because he is open minded and honest about the facts.

Thanks for making and uploading this video :-)

[911FalseFlagTerror01]

Free to express what? They will excise Free Speech. Terrorist thoughts will be criminalizeed. So to will speech criticizing the State. All they do is frighten the citizenry with terrorism, communissm, any other ism will do just as well. They will make neighbors snitches within a climate of fear just like the Monsters On Maple Street.

[Americathebrave100]

Professor Volokh is a genius! No one will ever take my right away for free speech.

[getnick77]

@glennd7962 no the second amendment ends with "shall not be infringed", all states with CCW have seen reductions in overall crime including homicide, and if by utilitarian you mean according to facts and by principled you mean emotional then you are correct.

[TheWeizOne]

I'm sure this has been said before, but it bears repeating. A person who is going to use a gun to break the law is not going to care about the laws pertaining to the acquisition and carrying of the gun. Gun laws keep law abiding citizens from getting, carrying, and using guns in a legal fashion to protect themselves and others from those willing to break the law.

[glennd7962]

'Too clever by half' is how this guy comes off on his blog and in person. His presentation of the crime reduction experienced by states with concealed permit laws give's him away. First, it doesn't need to be a "massive, massive" difference to be worthy. Second, the entire argument is utilitarian versus principled. Also, when choosing to comment on constitutional language, he doesn't mention that the second amendment doesn't start with "Congress shall.." like the first amendment. Interesting...

[Mackingster]

How about atavist judges? Are they outside of the law?

[welkinator]

I suggest that if everyone was armed we would live in a FAR more polite society.

[yougiberishtube]

5 stars