By: Ken Jensen On October 24, 2018, President Trump stated his administration was “seriously” considering changing the way it treats transgender people under the law. Given his history of statements which never come to fruition, one could dismiss it. The effort this administration to negate any effort to define gender identity in any manner besides … Continue reading President Trump wants to define transgender out of existence, but we cannot let him define us.
Federal Regulation
PIAC Gun Control Series: Possible Legislative Actions
By: Ridgeway Woulfe Thus far in our Gun Control Series, we have discussed why there is a need for gun control solutions and we have discussed who can provide these solutions. Now we address what gun control legislation could actually look like. These methods are not guaranteed to withstand Constitutional challenges. Banned Gun Types One … Continue reading PIAC Gun Control Series: Possible Legislative Actions
The First Amendment: Has it been Weaponized?
By: Robert Bryson Shortly after the Citizens United and Janus decisions, detractors began heaping criticism upon the Supreme Court for “weaponizing” the First Amendment. Indeed, Justice Kagan makes that very argument in her dissent: “It [the majority] does so by weaponizing the First Amendment, in a way that unleashes judges, now and in the future, … Continue reading The First Amendment: Has it been Weaponized?
President Trump Threatens to Revoke California’s Waiver under the Clean Air Act: Can he do it?
By: Robert Bryson President Trump, as part of the Administration’s goal of rolling back regulations designed to combat climate change, has threatened to rollback a waiver granted to California to pursue stricter vehicle emissions standards. Under the Obama Administration, the federal government and California collaborated on preparing the currently-enacted vehicle standards.[1] The waiver was granted … Continue reading President Trump Threatens to Revoke California’s Waiver under the Clean Air Act: Can he do it?
The Accountable Capitalism Act: Should Corporations be mandated to act under moral obligations of personhood or only to maximize the value of their shares?
By: Maryam Karimi With the widening inequality in corporate America and ever-rising CEO compensation, strides towards restructuring corporate wealth may be one of the most important and onerous tasks a senator can choose to undertake.[1] On August 15, 2018, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts introduced the Accountable Capitalism Act which would create an Office of … Continue reading The Accountable Capitalism Act: Should Corporations be mandated to act under moral obligations of personhood or only to maximize the value of their shares?
Corporate Personhood: Can a corporation really hold religious views? How did we get here?
By: Robert Bryson Corporate personhood is the legal notion that a corporation is a distinct entity that exists separately from the human being associated with it (like owners, managers, and employees). Corporations got their first breath of life in the Justinian Digest (the latest iteration of the Roman Code). Pope Innocent IV (pontificate from 1243-54) … Continue reading Corporate Personhood: Can a corporation really hold religious views? How did we get here?
PIAC Gun Control Series: Who can Create Gun Control Regulations
By: Ridgeway Woulfe We’ve addressed the need for a change in how America approaches gun violence. We’ve addressed some options for reducing gun violence. Now, we address WHO can take these steps. America has placed the most attention upon the federal government. Indeed, the federal government has the best ability to take the needed steps … Continue reading PIAC Gun Control Series: Who can Create Gun Control Regulations
PIAC Gun Control Series: Analyzing Australia’s Gun Control Laws and their Applicability to the United States
By: Jessica Colburn and Robert Bryson Imagine United States in 2039. It hasn’t had a mass shooting since 2019. Gun violence remains a problem, but nothing on the scale of Las Vegas, Pulse, Sandy Hook, or Parkland. How did this happen? A handful of congresspeople met in secret agreed to work on gun control legislation; … Continue reading PIAC Gun Control Series: Analyzing Australia’s Gun Control Laws and their Applicability to the United States
Supreme Court Promotes a Double Standard for Religious Animus: Presidents to State Commissions
By: Ken Jensen In her dissent to the majority opinion upholding Trump’s travel ban, Justice Sotomayor identifies a compelling contradiction with the Court’s previous opinion regarding gay wedding cakes. In Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Comm'n, the Court decided whether a baker could refuse to design or bake a cake for a same-sex … Continue reading Supreme Court Promotes a Double Standard for Religious Animus: Presidents to State Commissions
PIAC Gun Control Series: The History of the 2nd Amendment
By: Jessica Colburn The Second Amendment, while hotly debated, is not well understood because the language of the Amendment is unclear and old, specifically 227 years old. Here, we shed some light on what is meant by the language of the Second Amendment, including the phrases, “a well-regulated militia” and “the right of the people … Continue reading PIAC Gun Control Series: The History of the 2nd Amendment
Public Interest Advocacy Collaborative 