Freedom of speech ranks chiefly among the civil rights protected by the First Amendment.The founders recognized that a free society must be allowed to grapple with conflicting ideas and viewpoints in order to flourish. Students have been taught the significance of free speech for centuries and American society has counted on educators to ensure the next generation of citizens are well equipped to handle opposing viewpoints. The great tradition of schools and universities being bastions of free speech and civil discourse has been ingrained in the American psyche and upheld by academics and administrators alike, until recently.

Everyone should have the right to unlock their legally owned phones in the Digital–Age yet  government policy once again is unnecessarily limiting consumer choice. In 1998, Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which outlawed the sale or creation of software for circumventing anti-piracy locks on digital devices, even if they comply with copyright law.

On Tuesday, Governor Rick Perry issued his first veto of the year, vetoing HB 2403, an Internet sales tax bill which FreedomWorks opposed. By vetoing HB 2403 Governor Perry has saved taxpayers and business alike from burdensome regulations and new taxes. In vetoing the legislation Perry cited that a key reason for his veto was that there was no consensus between lawmakers, tech experts, consumers and retailers.