Hal Turner facing charges for inciting violence against officials

[MercedesV]

"Mr. Turner's comments are above and beyond the threshold of free speech," Capitol Police Chief Michael J. Fallon said in an e-mail announcing the warrant. "He is inciting others through his website to commit acts of violence and has created fear and alarm. He should be held accountable for his conduct."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/04/hal-turner-talk-radio-hos_n_211377.html

[joolz]

"Mr. Turner's comments are above and beyond the threshold of free speech," Capitol Police Chief Michael J. Fallon said in an e-mail announcing the warrant. "He is inciting others through his website to commit acts of violence and has created fear and alarm. He should be held accountable for his conduct."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/04/hal-turner-talk-radio-hos_n_211377.html


These raving hatemongers used to be found on corners and soapboxes, where at least they had limited audiences. Too bad they now have such access to public airwaves and to so many folks who seem to be vulnerable - or at least accepting - of this kind of hatred and pro-violence screeching. While I have very mixed feelings about limiting free speech, I do hope this guy is convicted and taken off the air. jmo

[MercedesV]

I don't think any reasonable person wants to limit free speech. But there is a line. The famous free speech doesn't mean you can yell fire in a crowded theater when there isn't one line helps define free speech. But what about this kind of hate speech that incites violence. Perhaps the definition of free speech has to be clarified again to include things like the internet.

With freedoms come responsibilities I think. And it is at the very least, horribly irresponsible to promote violence to a large audience. To encourage violence against people, especially govt officials doing their jobs. To me, Hal Turner went way over the line. I think there is a difference between free speech and threatening people. I do notice another tactic used these days. Disclosing peoples private information on the web. To me that is for no good reason, only to cause harm to the people whose information is revealed. I don't see how that can be considered free speech.