Posted on 11/01/2025 5:33:27 AM PDT by Libloather
The First Amendment won out this week in a court case over a man who repeatedly called for President Donald Trump’s assassination and openly fantasized about his violent demise.
A jury acquitted the man, Peter Stinson, of one charge of soliciting a crime of violence, raising questions about when speech is protected by the Constitution and when it becomes incriminating.
A former longtime Coast Guard officer, Stinson called for someone to "take the shot" in reference to Trump, according to court papers. "Realistically the only solution is violence," Stinson wrote.
Stinson said he "would twist the knife after sliding it into [Trump’s] fatty flesh" and that he "would be willing to pitch in" for a hitman contract.
"He wants us dead. I can say the same thing about him," Stinson wrote in another post during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A witness for the defense, Professor Jen Golbeck of the University of Maryland, said people "rooting for Trump to die online" is common.
"On one hand, I would not encourage anyone to post those thoughts on social media," Golbeck said, according to the Washington Post. "On the other hand, I can’t count the number of people who I saw post similar things. ... It’s a very common sentiment. There’s social media accounts dedicated to tracking whether Trump has died."
Brennen VanderVeen, program counsel with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said that one issue with the charges in Stinson’s case was that it was not clear whom Stinson was soliciting to carry out the crime.
"Solicitation is when it’s directly tied to the crime. So, if he contacts an actual hit man and tries to arrange some sort of hit contract, that’s solicitation," VanderVeen told Fox News Digital. "Without more … that probably does not meet the elements...
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
What about the big “First Amendment” loss when you far left King Hakeem walkers decided Charlie Kirk had to be murdered by one of your retarded assassins.
This guy gets off for actual threatening speech while people who quietly stand across the street from abortion clincs are arrested and thrown in jail. Yup, great country we have here.
I have little doubt you'd be locked up.
The advocated violence that will spew forth after this verdict will be off the charts.
“former longtime” penguin and dolphin counter.
On one hand, I would not encourage anyone to post those thoughts on social media,”
Sure you are, you’re doing it now.
A USA COAST GUARD OFFICER-—
THAT IS CHILLING ENOUGH FOR ME.....
I don’t know how everyone else feels, but... this kind of news really depresses me. It’s as if there is NO common decency anymore. Seeing a hero like Charlie Kirk slaughtered, while people I thought were decent cheered... and then, seeing this kind of stuff... I am losing hope for our society.
One side has declared full out war. My side, is still deliberating. How do we maintain social cohesion like this?
If I get recalled the nation is in a world of hurt.
SpyNavy
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
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