All good Americans treasure and defend our constitutionally protected First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, petition and peaceable assembly to express varying points of view on political matters.
We justly and properly may communicate with government on issues that concern us. But there is no constitutional right for anyone to commit violent or threatening acts or to disrupt government proceedings.
Some who exceeded constitutional boundaries had to be reminded of that at the Tennessee Capitol on Tuesday.
Several people were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct as they shouted protests and engaged in other disruption at a meeting of some members of the Tennessee General Assembly.
It doesn’t matter the issue or the cause: Orderly conduct is permitted. Disorderly conduct is not.