Would someone kill me now please...sheesh.

[Cloud_99]

O.K on the topic of countries freedom. We don't get it much better over here. But we get it in a completely different way. Political Correctness. I mean WTF. I can't say what I like because some politician doesn't have the same veiws as me. I can't say that all illegal immigrants should be shipped out of my country because they're all theiving, murderous, little money grabbers, stealing my hard earned cash, because some politician says I can't. everyone in this country is so f'ing scared of their own shadows that they wont stand up and say what they believe. Now before you all call me a nazi, I have no problems with immigrants, that's not what this is about. I like them as long as they come to this country to earna living not just sponge off of me. I digress. We are no longer free in this country. The Great british empire has been brought crashing down by the demon that is political correctness. So what if you can't walk about in a ski mask. I can't even walk into my local store and SAY I'm going to rob them in a non threatening manor because I'll be arrested.

Land of the free indeed. If you think your free, try walking into the deli and urinating on the cheese.

so you think your being opressed try living in Britain for a week.

[Big D]

That bozo deserves punishment.
He made a deliberate attempt to instil fear into an innocent store-owner by doing something provocative and intimidating. He knew of the effect his action would have - that'd undoubtedly be the reason he did it in the first place - and went and did it anyway, without caring that an innocent party might suffer the fear of being robbed or murdered by a masked stranger.
Normal people don't wear ski masks into convenience stores; it's something done solely for conealment. At least, that's how it's widely interpreted. Every bank has a sign in its window stating that no helmets or masks may be worn on the premises, for that exact same reason.

I wouldn't say that this DJ made a "terror threat", but if his action goes unpunished, then the authorities are basically saying it's ok for anyone else to follow suit. Thousands of moronic teenagers will do the same, and the consequences for store owners would be severe.

[kikimm]

things like this make me want to go and live with my relatives in england or sweden. sometimes i'm really embarresed to be an american.

[Shadow Nexus]

Thousands of moronic teenagers will do the same, and the consequences for store owners would be severe.

Like...do you seriously think people are so stupid?





...









OK, OK, maybe you have a point.

[Casey]

I can't say that all illegal immigrants should be shipped out of my country because they're all theiving, murderous, little money grabbers, stealing my hard earned cash, because some politician says I can't.

Actually, immigrants arnt taking your jobs, there taking the jobs Americans dont want.

That bozo deserves punishment.
He made a deliberate attempt to instil fear into an innocent store-owner by doing something provocative and intimidating. He knew of the effect his action would have - that'd undoubtedly be the reason he did it in the first place - and went and did it anyway, without caring that an innocent party might suffer the fear of being robbed or murdered by a masked stranger.
Normal people don't wear ski masks into convenience stores; it's something done solely for conealment. At least, that's how it's widely interpreted. Every bank has a sign in its window stating that no helmets or masks may be worn on the premises, for that exact same reason.

Yeah I agree. The punishment should show that other stupid people dont do that.

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

But, about what I've come to expect from a country that sends the CIA after a young boy who's drawing anti-Bush pictures.

Uh...you are not serious about that, are you? Did I miss something?

I kid you not. A young boy, I believe in his preteens, drew pictures, I believe depicting Bush being attacked or killed or something, and the CIA went after him.

[TasteyPies]

I kid you not. A young boy, I believe in his preteens, drew pictures, I believe depicting Bush being attacked or killed or something, and the CIA went after him.

Why would that poor sick little guy draw pictures of an American leader being mauled to death? There must have been a caption or something that the kid added that sounded threatening or something or the CIA wouldn't have wasted their time. Or did the kid do something stupid like send it to PRESIDENT Bush?

(Come on people he isn't a next door neighbor, show some respect with President in front)

[nik0tine]

Imagined? You mean, Ossama bin Laden is like this creepy guy they tell kids about, to make them finish their meals?

two words: duct tape


i dont even see how the whole duct tape thing can be an argument at all. he commited no crime, therefore he CANNOT go to jail and he CANNOT be fined. period. unless of course, wearing a ski mask into a store is actaully a crime. it may be, but i dont think it is. i dont see a problem with him being arrested, but if he gets convicted of anything im gonna have a big problem with that. what he did was wrong, but that changes nothing. morales have nothing to do with this, its a legal issue. this man should not receive any punishment whatsoever.


"I kid you not. A young boy, I believe in his preteens, drew pictures, I believe depicting Bush being attacked or killed or something, and the CIA went after him."

no he drew george bush and made him look like satan and had him holding or launching a missile. then there was a caption that said "STOP THE WAR ON TERROR" the kids art teacher saw it, sent it to the principal who then sent it to the police,who then called on the CIA and they paid the kid a visit. the kid obviously was no threat, they did this jsut to scare him into staying in line and not using his voice to raise dissent against the president.

[aeris2001x2]

lol that sounds alot like the Gestapo style CIA of the worlds most powerful dictatorship

[Trumpet Thief]

I kid you not. A young boy, I believe in his preteens, drew pictures, I believe depicting Bush being attacked or killed or something, and the CIA went after him.

The U.S. is in great fear of course. For some school things as well, for example, someone wearing a "Anti-War" T-shirt, they got expelled etc.

I do agree about the fact that who wouldn't suspect it would be weird of someone did something like that, but the punishment was way too large. In fact, if it were to be a joke, they shouldn't have even given him a punishment IMO.

[Endless]

I think some of you misunderstand the notion of "land of the free". Freedom isn't "do whetever you please", that's anarchy, or, as Hobbes called it "State of Nature". It doesn't work. Liberty doesn't give you license to act however you want. People choose to leave the State of Nature to form a Government, where they voluntary give up some of their freedoms (such as "kill anyone you'd like"). Each State in the US has laws that restrict your liberties. So does Federal law (by giving some powers to the Government and its agencies, etc...).


About the topic at hand, if any of you had the curiosity (that's getting to be a rare characteristic nowadays) to read the Texas law (the penal code here) about it, you'd see that the DJ was in the wrong:
"Sec. 22.07. TERRORISTIC THREAT. (a) A person commits an offense if he threatens to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to:
~ ~ (1) cause a reaction of any type to his threat by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies;
~ ~ (2) place any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury; or
~ ~ (3) prevent or interrupt the occupation or use of a building; room; place of assembly; place to which the public has access; place of employment or occupation; aircraft, automobile, or other form of conveyance; or other public place; or
~ ~ (4) cause impairment or interruption of public communications, public transportation, public water, gas, or power supply or other public service.
~ (b) An offense under Subdivision (1) or (2) of Subsection (a) is a Class B misdemeanor. An offense under Subdivision (3) of Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. An offense under Subdivision (4) of Subsection (a) is a felony of the third degree. "
(bold mine)

So we have here a guy whose behavior caused both (1) and (2), because it caused a police intervention (and he did it with the purpose of seeing that happen), and placed the store owner in a postition of fear of imminent threat, which means it falls under Class B midemeanor on two counts, and reading from the AP article, qualified it into a class A misdemeanor, which, according to the Section 12.21 of the same Texas penal code:
"Sec. 12.21. CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. An individual adjudged guilty of a Class A misdemeanor shall be punished by:
~ ~ (1) a fine not to exceed $4,000;
~ ~ (2) confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year; or
~ ~ (3) both such fine and confinement. "
(For the record, a class B misdemeanor is half of each punishment)

Which means he can get UP TO $4.000 and/or UP TO 1 year in jail. For now, the AP wire doesn't say if he got either, or what amount. It just stated the MAXIMUM punishment applicable. Now if you don't like Texas law (and I have a feeling that that 22.07 was passed after the Oklahoma city bombing, to avoid pranksters as well as real criminals), well, go live there and get it repelled by writing your state legislature.

Edit:
1) For your information, the guy is free on bond.
2) KISS-FM suspended him for that stunt (source 1, Source 2).

[edczxcvbnm]

What that DJ did was really stupid but the charge is even stupider. There are other things he could be charged with like disturbing the peace and suspious behavior. Lets face it though. Once this case goes to the supreme court this stupid charge will be overturned if not over turned in Texas at some level.


__________________



"I've been waiting for you for such a long time. I need you ... just as you need me.
Let us walk together. As long as we walk together, I shall protect you."
- Morganna