The Hilarious Hypocrisy of Handing Out Flyers on Capitol Hill

All we wanted to do was invite Congress to a free movie. Apparently, that’s a felony. 

Welcome to Washington, D.C.—where you’d think free speech comes first, seeing as it’s literally the First Amendment.

But here, it’s buried under red tape, permit applications, and invisible boundaries.

Imagine this: You’re standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol—America’s supposed temple of democracy and champion of the Bill of Rights—holding a few innocent flyers.

Not selling timeshares. Not screaming into a bullhorn.

Just inviting Members of Congress to a free screening of Stolen Rainbow: The Great Unmasking.

Seems like the purest form of First Amendment expression, right?

Wrong.

Because here’s the Orwellian joke that only bureaucrats could write:

On Capitol Grounds, the very act of exercising free speech requires government permission.

Government Permission! To exercise your First Amendment Right!.

According to U.S. Capitol Police and their twisted interpretation of 40 U.S.C. § 5104, handing out a flyer counts as a “First Amendment activity.” Which you would think means: Protected Activity.

No… you need a permit.

Read that again and scramble your brain some more.

To exercise a right that’s supposed to need no permission, you need permission.

It’s like being told you’re free to pray—as long as no one can hear it. God help us.

Now, for the area under Capitol Police control, where Free Speech Activity is not permitted?

Let’s just say it’s not small.

It includes the Capitol steps, surrounding sidewalks, grassy areas near congressional offices…
And yes, even the corner outside the Republican Capitol Hill Club.

Want to flyer there? You’re a threat to national security.

The penalty for stepping over the invisible line?

A $500 fine, possible arrest, or a moral lecture about “decorum.”

Because clearly, nothing disrupts democracy like a polite movie invitation.

Meanwhile, tourists in political T-shirts march through unbothered.

Apparently, the First Amendment applies to slogans—just not to paper.

And the courts? God bless their blindfolds.

Their advice? Mail your flyer.

Because nothing says “urgency” like a letter destined for the intern’s recycling bin.

Their righteous justification?

“Security and order.”

Good Lord, that someone should hand out a flyer offering a free movie and lunch. It‘s a clear and present danger.

This is Capitol Hill in 2025.

Where free speech is celebrated in theory, strangled in practice.

You’re not a citizen. You’re a “First Amendment activity.” Digest that!

But here’s what we’re doing:
This September, we’ll be somewhere on the streets of D.C.
On the legal side of an invisible line between Free Speech and Going to Jail while handing out flyers.
No bullhorns. No yelling.

Just one question:

If you need permission to speak truth on the steps of your own government… are you still free?

AUTHOR

Martin Mawyer

Martin Mawyer is the President of Christian Action Network and host of the “Shout Out Patriots” podcast. Follow him for more action alerts, cultural commentary, and real-world campaigns defending faith, family, and freedom.

EDITORS NOTE: This Majority Report column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

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