New Laws. Something that rarely happens in Equestria. Not for the lack of needing them, there are plenty of issues that could be solved with the right kinds of laws in place, but for the simple fact that a lot of times they just don't work out as intended and get revoked. It can be a challenge to find the right kind of balance between a law, the rules of the law, the enforcement of it, and the punishment that comes with breaking it.
A challenge that Equestria's newest Princess, Twilight Sparkle, feels she is up to the task for.
Twilight has seen and heard about many issues, both in Ponyville and other parts of Equestria, that could be handled with the right kinds of laws in place. However, due to there having been several times in the past where new laws being passed have been less than ideal, she is going to be taking it slow. To do this, any new laws she passes will first be given a trial run in Ponyville to see how they work out before either letting them be applied to Equestria due to being successful or being dropped due to not working as intended.
Cover art by Hybridance.
Horrible idea Twilight. Expect everyone in Ponyville to get in legal trouble.
You never add a retroactive clause to any law. That is stupid and the quickest way to start an uprising. Twilight! You're supposed to be smarter than this!
Ha ha! They finally get what they deserve!
...what do you mean I have to leave my guns at home?
Ooo, that retroactive clause. Not the best idea unless the goal was to immediately put someone with deep pockets like Filthy Rich on the legal defensive.
A better approach would be to write the law such that it includes success metrics, and have comparing post-implementation bullying rates to pre-implementation rates be a part of those metrics (with the funding to properly research the pre-implementation rates if they don't already have the statistics).
4682580
4682470
I have an explanation for the retroactive clause. It's being included will make sense in time
Twiley's now trying to take away all our freedoms and rights! Ain't that fucking cute???
This can only end well.
Or it could lead ponies to conclude that the law is a complete success if bullying stops becoming a problem following its passage...
Which kinda makes the retroactive clause a little unnecessary.
Great idea! I'll be watching this.
*cough* Ex Post Facto *cough*
This story needs an intelligent but likeable libertarian antagonist as a foil for twilight. Perhaps a lawyer hired by filthy rich.
4682653
What's it to ya, fat-face?
*pays fine* *grumbles*
Yeah, you're fond of that law now, aren't you? Milk-Drinker.
*pays fine* *grumbles*
Retroactive laws are never a good idea, under any circumstances. If under law it was ok at the time, then you can't punish people if they stop once the law is changed. That is the basis of an effective legal system.
... *widest grin evar*
Usually, I would agree with the remarks about retroactive laws. They aren't done. They aren't done for a reason.
...
Hang that noise, I'm also a big fan of Karmic Justice, and I suspect Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are about to become very very well acquainted with Karmic Justice. XD
I actually winced when I read the word retroactive: almost made me feel bad for the two.
Edit: For the many of you dissing retroactive laws; they do exist within the realm of Environmental Law and exist with very good reason. Environmental Cleanup is a costly and time-consuming process, and without the retroactive nature of the law, those truly responsible for a potentially devastating mess would not be held accountable. This would leave those only responsible for minor infractions to shoulder the burden of a cleanup they may not be able to afford.
Obviously bullying isn't quite as serious as environmental disaster, but those saying retroactive laws shouldn't exist at all should stop and think there must have been a reason for such laws to exist in the first place.
4686241 She wants to silence her political opponents and outlaw the criticism of public officials (e.g. satire)... where have we seen this before...?
(Hitler wanted to get rid of his opponents in Nazi Germany, and Stalin sent his opponents to death camps, China's communist regime is censoring the internet, suppressing freedom of speech, and sending its opponents to labor camps)
Try cracking open a history book, and see for yourself.
4687415
How does cracking down on schoolyard bullying equate to silencing political opponents (and for that matter, what political opponents)?
4687712 She wants everyone to conform to her liberal communist agenda!!!
She'll imprison anyone who disagrees with her! ☭ ☭ ☭
4687967
That's a weak argument considering I asked you two questions you neglected to answer. How does combating schoolyard bullying equate to silencing political opponents, and what political opponents does the Friendship Princess want silenced?
4687989 1) For one, critics of Twilight would no longer be legally allowed to speak their mind, because it's considered "bullying", thus the restrictions on free speech, expression, popular opinion, etc.
2) She's basically saying "shut up" to anyone who opposes her or disagrees with her opinion on various matters, therefore my concerns about conformity. I know that there have been governments (Communist or otherwise) that have tried to silence their opponents or dissidents, as countries like China and North Korea are doing. I'm worried that the end result might just be total and absolute governmental control of the populace.
Oh, this is going to be interesting.
4688121
I can see your concerns, however it all comes down to the wording of the bill itself, something we don't have access to.
Also, do you think Celestia and Luna, being the senior princesses, would allow this bill to go past the trial stage if it's vaguely worded and could be misused?
4688230 If the law can be abused in any way, than maybe it should be either repealed or re-written entirely with more concise and specific language.
4686921
Imagine a traffic policeman imposing you a mountain of fines for parking your car for a year in a zone with a recent no-parking sign.
As for everyone complaining about retroactive, yeah, I personally wouldn't do that but if she did the fine is probably a small percentage (especially considering that even 1% would probably bankrupt Filthy Rich entirely). The fine is more "your parents don't like paying money for silly things that don't help anything so they have more incentive to convince you to stop". As for freedom of speech concerns, I think it's likely the law is worded more to discourage insulting, patronizing and rude behaviour rather than disagreements, since even Twilight's friends disagree with her sometimes.
If this fine is retroactive to all bullying in Ponyville, I hope we get to see the REAL bullies punished. I remember 3 bullies tried to drown another filly by tricking her with a sabotaged parade float. Those same 3 kids wrote cruel and hurtful things about many people in the foal free press and published it for the entire town to see. I hope that those three bullies get the REAL punishment, since from a retroactive perspective they are the much more serious offenders then a pair of fillies who occasionally say mean things. Also, is there an age range? Because the Element of Kindness bullied nearly everyone in town after she attended Iron Will's seminar.
Will this law apply to Princess Twilight's friends and the family of those friends, or just ponies she doesn't like?
I await more with muchly excitement. Liked AND faved.
I like this story
4682653 I'm not seeing it. I hope you're just kidding.
4687415 Man, you got to be kidding. Now you're exaggerating so wildly I can't take you seriously at all.
4687967 And here I gave up on even trying to take you seriously.
4688121 And I'm still not seeing how an anti-bullying law equates to this. It's like saying a law forbidding you to break into people's houses somehow means you're not allowed to visit someone's home because it's not your house and holyshit that's illegal OFF TO THE GULAG WITH YOU
Also, this is Twilight Sparkle making a law to make sure that kids aren't allowed to torment other kids (a very real problem IRL, btw), not King Sombra the Terrible trying to remove political dissidents and undesirables... Or did Twilight become the Dark Queen of Dusk and Dawn when I wasn't looking?
As for the story itself, I foresee a great and amusing variety of shenanigans... You have my attention. And my upvote.
4690791 Now she wants an obedient (censored, state-filtered, state-approved, basically propaganda) media to go along with it! She wants to censor the newspapers, the TV, the radio, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
Liked and favorited. I expect great things from you.
4692764 OH SHIT. YOU'RE RIGHT! THREE BULLIES THAT REALIZED WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS WRONG, APOLOGIZED AND STOPPED BULLYING AND ONLY BULLIED ON TWO OCCASIONS IS TOTALLY WORSE THEN CONTINUED HARASSMENT FROM THE 2 BULLIES THE LAW WAS TARGETING EVERY SINGLE DAY, FROM WHICH THEY NEVER APOLOGIZE AND NEVER LET UP! HURR DURR!!!
In all fairness, a clause needs to be added that says if you apologized, the thing that says you still have to pay if you did it years ago is null and void to you.
And Flutters saw what she was doing and effectively traumatized herself. I think the law will let up on her.
Edit: Also, they did not realize the float was gonna crash into a lake. 1 occasion: REDEEMED.
others
, after " marks.
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I can't wait to see how this plays out. And if we see this spread out to the rest of Equestria, then those who traumatized Babs are in for one hell of a punishment due to the fact that they hurt her enough that she had to alter her appearance (cutting hair to prevent mane / tail pulling.) And if we are targeting all they've done (DT and SS) we have to remember:
1) Massive Blackmailing (at least to perpetrate Gabby Gums when the fillies tried backing out). Probably blackmailed many others throughout the years. Which in itself is a felony.
and
2) Psychological and Emotional assault. [assault and battery if we're taking the letter of the law when Silver Spoon lifted Scoots wings while sending her into a depressed mental state). And of course the "Pegasus that can't fly" thing was bad enough, but then they've probably done that multiple times.
I'm very interested to see the fall out of this. Oh! What about all those adults who've been bullying Fluttershy (Since technically when Flutters went to go shopping before her Iron Will training (Same episode) some of the shop keepers [cherry dude most memorable] used bullying tactics to get more money out of her. So technically the few ponies who use those tactics on "push overs" will get in trouble as well. Oh! And we have to see the reaction of DT and SS's family! That'll be epic.
4692947
Gives you a cookie for that comment you made.
4692947 So how is that different than Silver Spoon's plan that she and DT apologize to the Crusaders and leave them alone? I'm sure that they can argue they have learned their lesson, were traumatized, and have since been redeemed. If the point of the law is to make two particular children suffer, just list them by name and be done with it, instead of all these modifiers meant to fit them: Have bullied repeatedly, in the judgment of the princess were not "really sorry" or were not "traumatized" by their own actions, have cutie marks of a diamond tiara or a silver spoon, etc.
4693243
Where did she ever say to apologize? Her only plan was to leave them and others around town alone until this passed so they could pick back up where they left off late
4693513 You have a point there. Though any lawyer hired by the parents would have them sign a written apology first thing, along with having the parents state that they had already punished their daughters any time they learned that their daughters were bullying, so future punishments would constitute double jeopardy.
I just noticed: the crusaders knew the contents of the bill ahead of time, did Twilight merely show it to them first, or did the crusaders actually craft the retroactive clause to ensure DT and SS suffer, even if they leave the crusaders alone?
4693942
You will see in time. Likely when I publish the next chapter.
4693995 I can't wait!
Twilight is a freakin' idiot in your story. A retroactive punishment for a new law? What is this, the United States Congress?!
4684160
Yes, and then at the end they discover it was not Twilight making the laws, but some sort of Straw Golem that replaced her.
I do hope Equestria doesn't end up going to war with the gryphons over this... Still, it'd be interesting to see their policy on extradition.
4693071 :3
4693243 They can argue it.
Doesn't mean it's the truth. (When did that even happen?)
4695123 Oh it happened in the story. *facepalm*
Okay, can't wait to see what happens with this!
4693071
Except at the same time the three did gabby gums originally themselves without blackmail, so thus the three would be at part to be affected by the bully law.
4695566
But! They only did it because of positive reviews and comments from family and friends. As could be heard from Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Peers, and what have you laughing, having a good time, and talking well about it.
It in their innocent eyes wasn't bullying since it was something that had positive results. It was only after they got chewed out, and others started speaking bad about it did they learn that they were probably doing the wrong thing and wanted to stop [at which point they were unable to on their own free will due to the blackmail].
And in all honesty, what they were doing wasn't bullying as much as it was yellow journalism and tabloid writing, and was never done with malicious intent. Just what they thought other ponies wanted to hear [since it was something that everypony else got a good laugh at [with them, not against at first] and was giving the 3 positive reinforcement]. Then of course when that journalism started going bad was around the same time they were forced to find things to write "or else".
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Oh 4693243 don't forget the other bullies such as Crafty Crate [in PYHD and Trade Ya! [bullied Fluttershy, and scammed massive bits out of her when he heard she was desperate]; Roma [tomato merchant [in PYHD; Trade Ya!; Rainbow Falls; and One Bad Apple] tries scamming Fluttershy, Pinkie comes to the rescue, haggles price to half price through psychological trickery]; Surf [PYHD [verbally bullies Fluttershy, and steals her place in line]; Turf [same as Surf [they were together]]. And those are just that we know of. So while yes Deets and Silvy are going to get the brunt of it we have at least 4 extra ponies [btw. names can be found here.]
Just thought I'd let you know that it's not technically targetting only two, although they are the most vocal, viscous, and felonious of the bullies in Ponyville [I'm just glad that they can finally get in trouble for blackmail and extortion [which like Monopolies are legal in Equestria].
4695670
You might want to learn a few things before claiming that, the law doesn't care about 'technicalities' much, they were causing slander and bullying people as a result.
Also those people weren't scamming fluttershy, they have a barter based system and they knew she would pay more without bartering back. There's no scam at all, pinkie pie was just haggling as one would do in a BARTER BASED SYSTEM with no set prices.
Well as i study law i am intrigue how this ends, thanks fr sharing
4695670 Well Discord certainly qualifies, everything he's done in Ponyville during his first two visits is pretty much bullying. Does the Princess consider Discord's reformation as an excuse not to punish him?
And we forgot the single biggest offender of all! Two years ago this bully enchanted the entire town to fight over a doll, causing numerous injuries to many different townsfolk, and she was never punished for it. Of course, Princesses are above their own laws, so it is unlikely Twilight Sparkle will ever be prosecuted under her own anti-bullying statute.
4695713
Actually you want to check your facts. They are covered under the first amendment, and not only that, what they were writing [up till the blackmail] was meant for laughs and entertainment. And you are also wrong in that the law doesn't care about Technicalities. It loves technicalities.
And blackmail, and extortion are felonies. The fact that foals are immune to the law apparently is a good thing to change [since Cheerilee didn't do anything but demote DT after that fiasco came to light]. Tabloid Journalism is a valid, and legal form of expression. And the moment they knew that they crossed the line to what could be considered harrassment, is when they tried to back out.
The law recognizes that Durress crimes which Coercion [blackmail, bullying, extortion, and the like] is [as well as a Class C Felony] is a legitimate form of defense. And while it might not fully negate the point when those involved were harassed, it when the ponies wronged know [if they don't already] the extenuating circumstances. It could either less or fully negate the charges [especially if those wronged choose to drop charges].
4696381
Well you have to think about this. Yes he did: assault, rape, retaking an empire via chaotic takeover, commit crimes against nature and reality. But the second time around A) This was after unlawful imprisonment for thousands of years where B) he was forced to be aware of every moment, without chance of parole, movement, food, rest, protection of the elements, or steady / sentient companionship which C) is considered a thousands of years version of Solitary confinement which is a form of torture as well as several other forms of torture.
So he had every reason to be miffed for what could technically be considered a war crime (since there are multiple ways the EoH can confine, cleanse, and alter a problem). The EoH are a weapon of mass effect / destruction. And them using it without understanding how it works doesn't negate the fact they used a weapon on a foreign power at the time. So he retaliated as any foreign power would (especially since he was the original ruler of Equestria).
But considering thousands of years of torture, and several years in a secondary iteration of said torture [making them bigger bullies, much, much, bigger bullies [after all he never turned ponies into stone]]. His reforming would negate any legal repercussions, at least as long as they don't want a counter suit. Which would definitely use the "Grandfather clause" since where the "Several years" time limit starts he was still in his first iteration of his torturous confinement.
4695904
Interested [since you know law] if my above legal suppositions are accurate? Btw, I'm going to enjoy looking for and reading your comments in chapters to come. Just to see where real Lawyer, vs. Cartoon Lawyer tends.
4697332
Does Equestria have a First Amendment? Or any sort of checks and balances towards a monarchy system based on species privilege (alicornism). Or even what could be constituted as a war crime to begin with.
Also do remember that not everyone lives in America.