16 replies to this topic

[FruitRocks]

Just a quick thought.... Could somebody actually arrest you for saying that?

[Phoenix.Illusion]

Well I don't live in the United States of America but no you cant get arrested.
You have just said it

Ive said it loads of times!

[SpiderVV]

I don't think so. Only if Obama's security guards are all over Washington, maybe yes. Still, I don't think so, I bet a lot of people said that and they've not been arrested.

[rob86]

I think there's a legal difference between saying "I want" and "I plan to/want to/am going to".

Threatening to kill the president is definitely illegal even if you claim you were joking, but since it'd be a big hassle to punish everyone for saying it, they must use some discretion. Even though it constitutes a death threat against the head of state, I think authorities are pretty lenient with the comment since it's so often used in general when a person is angry "I'm going to kill that guy who stole my woman!" etc.

I would not be surprised if your comment on this forum was flagged and investigated because of the kill, president keywords etc though.

From what I hear from my friend in England, there are lots of protests calling for the killing of The Queen (in response to soldiers being in the M.E.). It's probably illegal, but the authorities are most afraid to do anything about it for fear of being accused of racism or not supporting free speech.

[webishqiptar]

rob86, on Aug 19 2009, 09:39 PM, said:

I would not be surprised if your comment on this forum was flagged and investigated because of the kill, president keywords etc though.

Really, I don't believe things have to be so serious. If you would like to threaten and try to kill the UNited states of America then why you would have to say it or write in any forum or site? I guess most of these things happening are just for fun or false. I am a fan of conspiracy theoris.

[brittmortimer]

i wouldn't think that its illegal to say it, now if you act on it....

[Nameless_]

rob86, on Aug 20 2009, 06:39 AM, said:

I think there's a legal difference between saying "I want" and "I plan to/want to/am going to".

Threatening to kill the president is definitely illegal even if you claim you were joking, but since it'd be a big hassle to punish everyone for saying it, they must use some discretion. Even though it constitutes a death threat against the head of state, I think authorities are pretty lenient with the comment since it's so often used in general when a person is angry "I'm going to kill that guy who stole my woman!" etc.

I would not be surprised if your comment on this forum was flagged and investigated because of the kill, president keywords etc though.

From what I hear from my friend in England, there are lots of protests calling for the killing of The Queen (in response to soldiers being in the M.E.). It's probably illegal, but the authorities are most afraid to do anything about it for fear of being accused of racism or not supporting free speech.

Yeah, I agree with that. If you go to your friend and said: God, I really don't like the way the President legislated people who are under eighteen years of age can now drink alcohol. I really want to kill the President of America!!!!!

You won't get charged with anything, as the United States of America is really quite free and isn't it a demographic country? So free thought is allowed, I mean, free speech is allowed, so you don't have anything to be charged for.
BUT, if you said, I am PLANNING to / am GOING to kill the President of America, I've already got it all planned out or something like that along the lines then you might get arrested, searched, put in terrorist camps or something like that. But it's only if you said it in a serious tone.

I mean, if you said: Haha, I'm going to kill the President of America for letting underage (or not underage now) children drink alcohol!

Then I think nobody will pay attention to what you have said apart from the friend that you were talking to.

But if you lived in a Communist Country (eg, China), THAT would've been a different matter altogether...

[TheDisturbedOne]

Saying something and planning to act on it are two very different things. Heck if you could get arrested for that, loads of people would be in prison during the Bush administeration.

[rayzoredge]

In America, our first Amendment protects our freedom of speech:

Quote

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It is not illegal for you to say those words; therefore, you are doing no wrong in saying them. However, you would be doing wrong in planning and conspiring if you actually meant those words, not to mention that you would be assaulting [def: the threat of violence] the President and thus can be held and tried for those two offenses.

There's also the whole common sense thing...

It's like how when Obama came down to the Portsmouth High School in little 'ol New Hampshire and although someone was actually found sneaking into the school prior to the town hall meeting with a pocket knife and a loaded, unregistered gun in his car, there was more hullabaloo with a guy who had permission to be on the grounds with a gun in a leg holster. Yes, the guy had every right to have a weapon, thanks to the second Amendment to the Constitution, but common sense dictates that you probably shouldn't have a weapon near the President of the United States as I'm sure it would be suspicious. (The guy had it on him to prove a point, which did happen and which also drew a large amount of attention thanks to the media... all of which he wanted in the first place.)

[freshpub]

You might also be charged with murder, rayzoredge, if you actually managed it somehow!

I agree with rob86 and Nameless_. There's a big difference between saying it, maybe in the heat of the moment, and actually planning to do it. And so there's should be!