Please, hoagy62, always support free speech. Always.
Okay...I am not one to get into a flame war. I haven’t participated in them in the past, and I really don’t want to start now. HOWEVER...
We have just come from 8 years of a traitorous, evil regime...one that has CONSTANTLY downtrodden our American way of life, disrespected it’s citizens, vilified the military, and promoted un-natural and evil lifestyles.
We have, after this dark and depressing period, finally elected as man who, if he follows through with what he has said, may indeed turn this country around and rouse it’s citizens to restore our nation to it’s place as the “shining beacon on a hill”.
Now, along comes some disgusting individual who has...not in PRIVATE, but on a PUBLIC social media conveyance, for EVERYONE to see...threatened to SHOOT DEAD the man we have DULY ELECTED as our President....and you want me to respect his rights of “free speech”????
NO.EFFING.WAY.
I don’t care if the guy was drunk, high, under the influence of ‘shrooms, or walking around with a purple diaper on his head.
HE THREATENED TO KILL MY PRESIDENT-ELECT. I want his nasty azz ARRESTED AND PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, and then I want him to serve the MAXIMUM amount of time allowed by LAW in a Federal PRISON. I want him to serve as an example to the next 10 generations that you DO NOT make public statements like that...EVER.
I appreciate what the case of ‘Watts v. US’ says. Maybe that kid was expressing frustration over having to go off and fight in a war. Perhaps what that particular young man said was off the cuff and not particularly well-thought out. But...did that young man just go through what WE’VE been through? Did he see his country on the verge of destruction and consignment to the ash-heap of history?
Because WE have. Now is our possibly last chance to turn it around, given to us as a merciful gift from Almighty God.
I will NOT listen to some no-account ex-CEO make a threat to destroy that chance without his answering for it.
There is a definitive difference between 'free speech' and what this guy said.
I recall that, after Obama was elected, many on our side were quoting a particular Scripture, Psalm 109:8, as a prayer for Obama..."May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership" (NIV).
Contrast that with (from Inquisitr.com)...
“‘I’m going to kill the president. Elect,’ Harrigan declared on Facebook. When someone cautioned him about making comments that could attract the attention of the FBI or Secret Service, Harrigan said, ‘Bring it secret service.’ When one of his buddies said ‘you just need to get high,’ he went into disturbing detail about his plans.” “‘Nope, getting a sniper rifle and perching myself where it counts. Find a bedroom in the White House that suits you, motherf***er. I’ll find you.’"
Quite the difference there. Free speech versus open threat.
This case has a man in a position of authority, a CEO of a company (not just a "dumb kid") making an overt threat, explicitly giving a weapon type and place. And challenging the Secret Service as well.