The backlash has already started...

[meldroc]

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/apr/19/cu-student-bonds-out-jail/

A University of Colorado student was formally charged Wednesday — and warned by a judge not to "press the limits of certain envelopes" — one day after being arrested on suspicion of threatening his classmates by saying he's angry enough to kill.

Max Karson's father paid a $1,000 bond to set his son free from jail on the eve of the student's 22nd birthday.

Max Karson wouldn't talk about the incident after leaving the jail. But his father said officers "overreacted" to reports that his son — during a class discussion about the Virginia Tech shootings — said he "could relate to the killer" and "was angry enough to kill his classmates."

"Max was arrested for making intellectual contributions in a class discussion about the tragic shooting in Virginia," Michael Karson said, just before getting to hug his son and take him to dinner.

Personally, I don't think this CU student should have been arrested or charged. He made some controversial remarks, and does like sailing close to the wind, but saying that you understand why someone might get so much rage that he would go on a killing spree doesn't mean you'll become a killer yourself.

But, HE'S A WITCH!!! BURN HIM!!!

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. Isn't This Considered Assault

Threatening the well being of someone is Assault, which is a crime.

So, if a person goes through airport security and states that he wants to kill everyone on the plane, should he be allowed to continue on?

[kiahzero]

2. He wasn't saying he wanted to.

He was saying that he had a requisite amount of anger.

[meldroc]

4. Where's the line?

In normal daily conversations, I've heard countless people say "If he doesn't clean up after himself again, I'll kill him!" or "If that idiot's late to the meeting again, I'll strangle him!" or "If that jackass stinks up the microwave again with his stinky fish again, I'll rip his head off!"

Should we throw people in jail for that? Is it assault, or is it hyperbole?

I've said things on this board that could be taken the wrong way. I've said "Where's John Wilkes Booth when we need him?" Does that mean I'm going to literally kill the president? No.

People shoot off their mouths all the time. If we threw everyone in jail who said they wanted to kill someone, there wouldn't be anyone left on the outside.

[Donnachaidh]

3. we're fed a diet of FEARMONGERING even before the shooting

So now we have more reasons for cops and authorities to clamp down. :grr:

Mission Accomplished!

[stillcool]

5. self-fulfilling prophecy...

a population incarcerated...think of all the money made by the prison labor industry! Unfortunately this is setting up nicely for a perfect venue to take advantage of a situation, and screw the masses out of the means to protect themselves from a predatory government. I posted about prison labor yesterday..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=696013&mesg_id=696013

[meldroc]

6. Add a Congressman to the list of witches to burn!

To quote Dana Rohrabacker, "I hope it's your family members that die when terrorists strike."

BURN HIM!!! BURN HIM!!!

OK, yes his comment was incredibly crass and tactless by every standard imaginable. Arrestable offense? No.