"I would love to kill George Bush" - Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Winner. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19902313-29677,00.html She can say it, but we Americans can't. Do you think that's right, or an unnecessary restriction of Freedom of Speech in America?
Actually I think you can say that. I think you can say, "I wish I could kill George Bush" too. You just can't say you will, or incite someone else too. I'm kind of on the fence on this. On one side, I think speech should be protected, on the other, if it is really likely to cause violence, then maybe it should be censored. You can't shout fire in a crowded theater to protect people. Maybe this should be the same kind of thing. I'm not sure. Nobel Peace Prize winner. Heh.
These days they take every statement like that seriously. And I'd expect if Betty Williams were ever to come to the States, she'd probably be turned back or arrested now.
my mom's uncle was insane and wrote all kindsa death threats to just about every president in office, throughout his, he eevn would right on the envelopes the FBI parked on the outskirts of his property for a few months, cable truck (how stereotypical, eh?) they left him alone after that
Threatenting the president should be as legal or illegal as threatening anyone else. He is not a king. The "equal protection of the law" means that the law should regard people the same. Actualy "I would love to..." is different than "I am going to ....". It might even be legaly different.
Well they (the SS) want to be sure what the intent is, and they will be in your face until they find out. I imagine he gets threatened every day since he took office. And twice on Sunday. Too bad I practice Ahimsa (non-violence). I could never do it. Of course just thinking it is himsa (violence). When will the precogs (from Minority Report) stop us from even contemplating violence? It seems our Leaders are bent on it.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones But words will never hurt me." Both the SS and the PC crowd seem to have forgotten this bit of folk wisdom.
I suppose if they locked up everyone who wanted to do in Bush, there wouldn't be anyone left except those who follow his orders.
Saying you'd like to kill Bush isn't an actual death threat and isn't illegal and you can't literally be arrested for it, though let's face it, it could get you wiretapped or arrested on some other trumped-up charge. However, saying you're going to kill him is a death threat and could get you taken away. At protest rallies I've seen all kinds of signs and occasionally I see one that says something like, "Assasinate Bush!" That's not illegal either, though to be safe I wouldn't recommend carrying such a sign unless you're at a big rally with plenty of people to back you up!
Don't be surprised if the FBI is knocking on your door for this thread. You should write a disclaimer just in case. Chimp has made america a fascist police state.
During the VietNam war, my cousin got drafted and sent to Nam. One night soon thereafter, my Aunt called the white house and said she was gonna kill LBJ. The call was transferred to the FBI and they could tell she was drunk and tried to give her a break "you don't really mean that do you ma'am?. Because it's a crime to threaten the president." She insisted she was serious. The next morning she was arrested and it ended up costing her $10,000 in bail, lawyer's fees and a fine. Personally, I wouldn't like to see jr. murdered. I'd rather see him arrested and stand trial for and convicted of war crimes. And don't forget, he's a big fan of the death penalty.
"Should" being the key word... TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 41 > § 871 § 871. Threats against President and successors to the Presidency (a) Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (b) The terms “President-elect” and “Vice President-elect” as used in this section shall mean such persons as are the apparent successful candidates for the offices of President and Vice President, respectively, as ascertained from the results of the general elections held to determine the electors of President and Vice President in accordance with title 3, United States Code, sections 1 and 2. The phrase “other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President” as used in this section shall mean the person next in the order of succession to act as President in accordance with title 3, United States Code, sections 19 and 20.
I'd rather see him arrested and stand trial for and convicted of war crimes. Starting with a Democrat president declaring him legally as an "enemy combatant" and sending him to Gitmo for questioning for a couple of decades.
