Question

Robert Stevens maintained a website through which he sold videos that showed pit bulls engaging in dogfights. He was convicted of violating a federal statute, 18 U.S.C.S. § 48, that made it a criminal offense to sell depictions of animal cruelty, defined as the maiming, mutilation, torture, wounding, or killing of an animal, that violated the law of the state where the creation, sale, or possession of the depiction of the cruelty occurred. The defendant argued that his conviction should be overturned because the statute was facially invalid under the First Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately agreed with Stevens and overturned his conviction. Explain the reasoning that you believe supports this outcome.

Answer 1

 The First Amendment to the United States Constitution basically has following contents;

1) Freedom of speech

2) Freedom of religion

3) Freedom of assembly

4) Freedom of the press

5) Right to petition.

So basically, The First Amendment to the United States Constitution has no rules related to animal rights.

And secondly, Robert Stevens didn't do any harm to animals by himself.