A man is shot dead in Utah after posting threats online, hours before Joe Biden visits the state.
    •  JillyB   ( @JillyB@beehaw.org ) 
      5•1 year ago

      Credible threats have less free speech protection. But I’m also concerned about this. The article doesn’t have any details about the raid. If they were trying to arrest him and he pulled a gun, then that’s just how it goes. If it was a no-knock raid, then it’s closer to summary execution, in my opinion. Hopefully more details come out about this.

    •  EvilColeslaw   ( @EvilColeslaw@beehaw.org ) 
      4•1 year ago

      “I hear Biden is coming to Utah. Digging out my old ghillie suit and cleaning the dust off the M24 sniper rifle.”

      “Perhaps Utah will become famous this week as the place a sniper took out Biden the Marxist.”

      Those probably cross the line and might not be protected speech. Especially when posted with pictures of the firearms and equipment in question.

        •  EvilColeslaw   ( @EvilColeslaw@beehaw.org ) 
          2•1 year ago

          Among other possibilities, Utah Code § 76-5-107

          (2) (a) An actor commits a threat of violence if the actor: (i) (A) threatens to commit an offense involving bodily injury, death, or substantial property damage; and (B) acts with intent to place an individual in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, substantial bodily injury, or death; or (ii) makes a threat, accompanied by a show of immediate force or violence, to do bodily injury to an individual. (b) A threat under this section may be express or implied.

          They showed up with an arrest warrant. Unless and until there’s some evidence where they just rolled up with the intent to murder him, I’m going to presume that’s not the case.