Before starting with the actual definition that, should narrow the trade name gag rule is proposed by those persons, or group of them who believe that a law sets limits in some way to freedom. If, for example, in some country a law is established that regulates demonstrations and that also establishes certain limits to citizens with respect to their ability to freely express their ideas, it is quite likely that said law will be classified as a gag law, a fact that entails a certain controversy, especially in a democratic context.
Strictly speaking, a gag is a holding instrument which is placed on the jaw of a horse in order to control it more easily. In addition, this term is used to describe the mechanism that is used in some machines to stop the operation of the same. In a figurative sense, a gag is anything that prevents an individual from being able to express himself freely.
Within a democratic context, freedom is considered a fundamental principle. Therefore, it is not a simple word, but is embodied in a series of provisions within the legal framework that formally recognize freedom of expression, movement, assembly, demonstration, among others. If the recognized freedoms have some kind of limitation, it is most likely that there are certain groups of the population that express their discomfort, since they consider that the restrictions imposed by law go against the spirit of freedom.
From a point of view in which a gag law is defended, the argument is usually given that it is not about stopping the different freedoms that are already established, but rather that it seeks to impose an order in the interests of greater security. For example, if a law is created that prohibits demonstrations in the vicinity of the seat of the government palace.
In the opinion of the promoters of the law, the purpose of it is to defend the representatives of the sovereignty of a country, a fact that does not prevent the demonstration in other places. While the counterpart of this legal provision, they classify it as a gag law, since the freedom of demonstration is above anything else and it is not admitted that there is any type of restriction regarding it.
