Free Speech Costs.... $30,000?

So a local pol wants to have a town hall forum on a pressing matter of interest. That should be a simple affair, right?

Not if the issue is illegal immigration.

State Senator Bill Morrow wanted to have a forum on the subject in the Carlsbad, Ca Cultural Arts Center. He invited Jim Gilchrist, Minuteman Founder and Congressman Tom Tancredo. The approvals were granted and invitations sent.

Until John Roach, Superintendent of the Carlsbad Unified School District, got cold feet. It seems at other Gilchrist events, the supporters of illegal immigrants have gotten violent. So the natural bureaucratic response is to blame peaceable citizens exercising their right to assemble. Morrow was informed that he would have to pay for authorities to provide security to the tune of $30,000.

This is not the first time that the violent tactics of Gilchrist's opponents have caused San Diego area authorities to shut down his speaking events. In July, the North Coast Republican Club had invited Gilchrist to speak in Encinitas. Again, only days before the event, authorities attempted to tag his hosts with the bill for dealing with thugs on the other side. This group was quoted $15,000.

Undaunted, the group found an alternate location at MCAS Miramar. However, again just before the event, authorities canceled the event. Ultimately, the group was forced to charter buses and drive to the Minutemen event in Campo.

Folks, what's going on here? American citizens are being denied their right to assemble because the supporters of illegal immigrants debate with their fists and marble filled Coke cans. We live in an upside down society when the authorities silence the advocates of the law in order to appease the lawless. Whatever happened to "We the People?"