The freedom to demonstrate, petition, and protest are rights guaranteed to the people by the Constitution. These are all parts of Americans’ sacred right to freedom of speech. Even offensive speech is protected. Obviously all such acts must be peaceful to be protected by the Constitution. Burning down buildings, slandering individuals, and threatening to kill people are not protected. Seems obvious, but sadly we have some examples of those who just don’t get it, or more likely, just don’t care.
Among these would be some Trump opponents who have crossed over the line from the protected to the criminal.
When a writer puts a $100 million bounty on the life of Donald Trump, it’s not funny, regardless of the protestations of the writer to the contrary. Jokes about assassinating Trump are not funny, either. And it’s not just in the US where we see this — the UK Guardian allowed a journalist to suggest threatening the life of Mr. Trump.
These remarks should be taken just as seriously as certain “jokes” airline passengers are warned not to make.
And witness the hypocrisy. What would these folks have said to people who made the same comments regarding the first black president that they have made regarding Mr. Trump? Sure, they hate Trump and love Obama, and they find Obama’s policies pleasing, unlike Mr. Trump’s. So what? That’s irrelevant. Both men are entitled to protection under the law.
This is just about as blatant as it gets. Why is this man not in custody for threatening the life of the president?
Matt Harrigan is the CEO of PacketSled and Critical Assets is calling for an assassination. Call the police, FBI, and the Secret Service! RIGHT NOW!
Via Reddit The Donald:
Harrigan wants Trump dead.
That’s criminal. Perhaps that thought finally penetrated Mr. Harrigan’s skull as he later offered a clarification, claiming it was all a joke.
Harrigan later posted an apology on Facebook:
My recent facebook comment was intended to be a joke, in the context of a larger conversation, and only privately shared as such. Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not engage in this form of rhetoric with any level of seriousness and the comment most certainly does not represent my real personal views in any regard. I apologize if anything that I said was either taken seriously, was offensive, or caused any legitimate concern. Best Regards, Matt Harrigan
Just a quick aside, note this excerpt, “I do not engage in this form of rhetoric with any level of seriousness…” How would you like to work for a guy who admits you can’t take his comments seriously?
Well, just in good sport, since Mr. Harrigan is such a fan of joking, perhaps he should be arrested and held in custody in the county jail for a few weeks for his comments before being released. All in good fun, of course.
The CEO has been placed on administrative leave by his company:
The founder and CEO of a San Diego data security company was placed on administrative leave after he reportedly threatened to kill President-elect Donald Trump.
The San Diego Union Tribune reported PacketSled CEO Matt Harrigan had directly threatened to kill the president-elect, citing a Reddit copy of election-night comments Harrigan made on Facebook, including the line: “getting a sniper rifle and perching myself where it counts.”
PacketSled said in a statement Monday it had placed Harrigan on leave and was cooperating with the Secret Service.
So he is ‘cooperating’ with Secret Service. The man has committed a serious crime. He should be cooperating with prison guards.
Source: The Gateway Pundit, Market Watch
I bet if he threatened the life of a Muslim refugee or someone here illegally that he would have already been arrested