Justin Carter, kid jailed for a sarcastic Facebook comment

[tele caster]

Zimmerman was not charged until 45 days after he shot Trayvon Martin, yet these kids are immediately charged for making stupid posts? Something doesn't make sense to me.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/47967 ... n-t-happen

[Scumback Speakers]

It makes sense to those in law enforcement I guess. I'm not saying it makes sense to me, or you. But the use of social media to post threats, terrorist or otherwise, reaches a wide audience through the internet, and police are dealing with it much faster than usual due to the recent events of Newton, GZ, etc.

All of it's a knee jerk reaction, but there's always someone who considers what's posted as a threat, real or imagined.

Welcome to the times we live in. It's not right, and it's probably got a lot of over reacting to it, but how do you decide what's real or a joke without treating the post as real until you find out it's a joke?

Like I said before, people need to carefully consider what they post online before hitting the "post" or "submit" button.

[eddie25]

Anyone who can't take 2 minutes to realize that these teenagers were joking has no business in law enforcement, at least that's how I feel. Any prosecutor who pushes these cases even though deep down they know the truth, is just as bad as a terrorist who thinks they are doing the right thing.

[Reeltarded]

Yes, but to some extent you are offering up yourself as an example to people who might not be joking.. law enforcement must appear to be on it. He's a volunteer PSA for non-violence. Consequences not related to his "threat", you know.

Truth be told, I want to know what is on people's minds. I want them to speak freely so I will know what they are about.

When I have a track and mix rap session... umm.. ok, let's not go there.

You counter threats by becoming one. That is what you do.

[NickC]

..................

You counter threats by becoming one. That is what you do.

Right on! The best defense is a strong offense. Let them speak. Let them declare their message of hate and insanity. Let them then populate the cross-hairs until it's determined they're not a threat. And if they are a legit threat, have a bead on them before they can get one on you.

[Teleguy61]

Anyone who can't take 2 minutes to realize that these teenagers were joking has no business in law enforcement, at least that's how I feel. Any prosecutor who pushes these cases even though deep down they know the truth, is just as bad as a terrorist who thinks they are doing the right thing.

I have a part time job in the security industry, and I can tell you, from my limited experience, that threats uttered in a public venue, which includes the internet, must be taken seriously until they can be shown to be baseless.
Any other response is irresponsible, and could be exposing other people to possible harm.

[tribi9]

Anyone who can't take 2 minutes to realize that these teenagers were joking has no business in law enforcement, at least that's how I feel. Any prosecutor who pushes these cases even though deep down they know the truth, is just as bad as a terrorist who thinks they are doing the right thing.

I have a part time job in the security industry, and I can tell you, from my limited experience, that threats uttered in a public venue, which includes the internet, must be taken seriously until they can be shown to be baseless.
Any other response is irresponsible, and could be exposing other people to possible harm.

I agree, it's a fucked up world out there and if taking action, could make the difference between a funeral and a bunch of people whining, I would choose taking action any day.

[briane]

Winking attempted manslaughter in the 11th degree. I thought of a guy who thought of killing a guy he never met for making a joke about him as a character in a novel.

no well just wait till you see a pretty girl - then convict you of 'pre-emptive mental rape'.

[NickC]

Winking attempted manslaughter in the 11th degree. I thought of a guy who thought of killing a guy he never met for making a joke about him as a character in a novel.

no well just wait till you see a pretty girl - then convict you of 'pre-emptive mental rape'.

Check out The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick (published 1956), or the Steven Spielberg movie, based on the short story, released in 2002.

[briane]

Check out The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick (published 1956)

required reading in elem school - just wait a few more years and well make it there.

no wonder I want to move up to the mountains and become a hermit sometimes.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Check out The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick (published 1956)

required reading in elem school - just wait a few more years and well make it there.

no wonder I want to move up to the mountains and become a hermit sometimes.

I AM a hermit in the mountains, and I still can't get away from this shit. I suppose if I wanted to unplug the tv and computer, I could live a life without knowing about all this crap. But the fact remains, our society is deteriorating. People are becoming more self-centered, more greedy, more self-entitled. Even up here on high.

[Reeltarded]

I can't agree with that in total. There is a mess that gets shoved in your face more than ever, and the government is acting at a very low point.

Appearance ya know. Denser populations and 39 24hr news channels sensationalizing conjecture. Not a good place for a thinking person to thought.

Eff'm.

I am locked away here too but the streets are for the uneaten young.

[Structo]

I think it was mentioned here but the 1st Amendment which guarantees freedom of speech does have it's limits.
Those limits have been argued and referred to the Supreme Court for decisions many times in the past.

Such as yelling "Fire!" in a crowded venue (movie theater).
Because it can cause panic and serious injury or death in a stampeding crowd.
The Schenck case was one landmark case about it.

Other examples such as a bomb threat or Threatening terrorism are a couple examples which can lead to being charged with a Class C Felony.

Or burning the American flag.
Which has been legislated many times but voted down each time by the Supreme Court due to the Bill of Rights.
Because there will always be people or groups of people that want to push or test them.

One only has to look at past incidents such as Columbine, Oklahoma City, Aurora Theater, Newtown, Boston, etc., to see where there could have been intervention before these cowardly acts were carried out.
Warnings signs from individuals or groups of people, such as writings, dialog or suspicious activities that could have been acted upon before people died.

I guess what I am saying is, it's a very fine line that we as a society have to balance on between our rights as civilians or as a threat made on Facebook, that could be a precursor to violence

[Scumback Speakers]

Yep, you're right on all counts IMO.

There was a police/sheriff action across the street from my place on Monday & Tuesday. Family dispute, leading to verbal threats of assault, then verbal threats of murder to the 70 year old grandmother by her daughter's whacked out boyfriend. He then went on to threaten his own two kids by the neighbor's daughter if they left him and stayed with grandma.

Nothing like working on orders/shipping documents for 3 hours, and come out at 8:45 am to 5 sheriff cars and one motorcycle cop with people handcuffed on the curb, restraining orders being discussed, etc, etc.

I feel for the two kids, a boy of 10, girl of 13. Grandma's rights do not overrule the mother/father's rights although they're homeless, penniless and had been sponging off grandma for a week to get bus tickets to George for a job the b/f admitted he didn't have...after he got the bus tickets and money to go.

The grandmother is sure this will end badly. Sad.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Reminds me of the battered wife / girlfriend syndrome: Woman calls the police "my boyfriend has threatened to kill me." "Has he physically harmed you?" "Not yet." "Well, we can't arrest him until he's done the deed. So call us back when you're dead."