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The US does not have "absolute freedom of speech". Try sending a believable death threat to a federal politician on twitter (don't, the secret service will trac
by zajd 8y ago
The US does not have "absolute freedom of speech". Try sending a believable death threat to a federal politician on twitter (don't, the secret service will track you down and arrest you- it happens more than you think)
- outworlder 8y agoThis is not what freedom of speech means. You can, ie, argue how death penalties should be applied to politicians who violate a certain rule. You cannot and should not be able to threaten one specific individual. If anything, we need more of that kind of enforcement. So many deaths could be prevented if only all jurisdictions handled this matter as seriously as the Secret Service does. EDIT: wording
- zajd 8y agoWhat does "absolute freedom of speech" mean exactly? I'm well aware that "freedom of speech" doesn't mean you can say anything to anyone at any time. But the parent is referencing something that I'm pretty sure does not exist.
- gamblor956 8y agoYou have the absolute right to say what you want, and the words you say to your target in your threat are not punishable. That is what free speech means in the US. However, the act of threatening someone is punishable, and it does not matter whether they are a politician or an ordinary person. What matters is that you committed the act of threatening to kill someone, and that is a crime regardless of the medium or act through which the threat is conveyed.