After Dallas Shootings, Police Arrest People for Criticizing Cops on Facebook and Twitter

[Joel]

After Dallas Shootings, Police Arrest People for Criticizing Cops on Facebook and Twitter

FOUR MEN IN Detroit were arrested over the past week for posts on social media that the police chief called threatening. One tweet that led to an arrest said that Micah Johnson, the man who shot police officers in Dallas last week, was a hero. None of the men have been named, nor have they been charged.

“I know this is a new issue, but I want these people charged with crimes,” said Detroit Police Chief James Craig. “I’ve directed my officers to prepare warrants for these four individuals, and we’ll see which venue is the best to pursue charges,” he added.

Five police officers were killed in the Dallas shootings, constituting the highest number of police casualties in an attack since September 11. And as a result, law enforcement officials everywhere are suddenly much more sensitive to threats against their lives.

But one result has been that several police departments across the country have arrested individuals for posts on social media accounts, often from citizen tips — raising concerns among free speech advocates.

“Arresting people for speech is something we should be very careful about,” Bruce Schneier, security technologist at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, told The Intercept.

Last weekend in Connecticut, police arrested Kurt Vanzuuk after a tip for posts on Facebook that identified Johnson as a hero and called for police to be killed. He was charged with inciting injury to persons or property.

An Illinois woman, Jenesis Reynolds, was arrested for writing in a Facebook post that she would shoot an officer who would pull her over. “I have no problem shooting a cop for simple traffic stop cuz they’d have no problem doing it to me,” she wrote, according to the police investigation. She was charged with disorderly conduct.

In New Jersey, Rolando Medina was arrested and charged with cyber harassment. He allegedly posted on an unidentified social media platform that he would destroy local police headquarters. In Louisiana, Kemonte Gilmore was arrested for an online video in which he allegedly threatened a police officer. He was charged with public intimidation.

“Certainly, posting that kind of thing on social media is a bad thought,” professor Larry Dubin of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law told the Detroit News. “But having a bad thought isn’t necessarily a crime.”

The policing of online threats is hardly a new issue. The Supreme Court set a precedent last year when it ruled that prosecutors pursuing a charge of communicating threats need to prove both that reasonable people would view the statement as a threat and that the intent was to threaten. Elonis v. United States dealt with a man who had posted violent rap lyrics about his estranged wife; the court reversed his conviction.

“After Dallas, threats may seem more threatening to police officers around the country,” said Daniel Medwed, professor of law at Northeastern University. “We might be seeing more arrests right now because the police will interpret that they have probable cause to make the arrest,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean in the end that this will result in convictions,” he added.

Schneier urged that law enforcement use caution. “This is complicated,” he said. “We don’t know how to do this — we’re doing it pretty badly, and we should do it better.”

But he said it was a sign of the times. These days, almost all communications are recorded in some capacity. “This new world where things aren’t forgotten is going to be different,” Schneier said. “And you’re seeing one manifestation of it in casual comments that are resulting in arrest.”

[Matchmaker]

I believe in free speech. At the same time I believe in allowing people to suffer negative consequences for bad choices. It's all part of free agency. In my opinion, if someone uses social media to threaten someone else with bodily harm, they deserve to be brought up on charges of some kind.

[nvr]

This is idiotic. Free speech is free speech, by definition you can say what you want. Police doing this are not honoring their oath to the constitution.

[SmallFarm]

This is idiotic. Free speech is free speech, by definition you can say what you want. Police doing this are not honoring their oath to the constitution.

Free speech does not include threats against someone's life. You are actually violating another person's liberty when you do so.

[Ezra]

This is idiotic. Free speech is free speech, by definition you can say what you want. Police doing this are not honoring their oath to the constitution.

Free speech does not include threats against someone's life. You are actually violating another person's liberty when you do so.

How so?

So this guy should be in jail?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K06bEg811O4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


People putting a group of letters together or sounds in a certain order is not violating anothers Liberty. They are just sounds and letter.

You can put all the sounds and letters together that you want to in any order you want. I will still be absolutely fine. Try it.

[David13]

This is idiotic. Free speech is free speech, by definition you can say what you want. Police doing this are not honoring their oath to the constitution.

Free speech does not include threats against someone's life. You are actually violating another person's liberty when you do so.

How so?

So this guy should be in jail?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K06bEg811O4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


People putting a group of letters together or sounds in a certain order is not violating anothers Liberty. They are just sounds and letter.

You can put all the sounds and letters together that you want to in any order you want. I will still be absolutely fine. Try it.

Ezra
I think those kinds of statements are today considered by many a state as "terrorist threats" and punishable by law.
There are limits to free speech, and today things like that are on the limited side.
dc

Today, when the rkba is so horribly threatened, it's important to know these things and be far more cautious than in years past.

[Ezra]

Flying an American flag in your yard can get you labeled as a terrorist. Being constitutional gets you labeled a terrorist.

But the only terrorist I know. Is the government.

[David13]

Flying an American flag in your yard can get you labeled as a terrorist. Being constitutional gets you labeled a terrorist.

But the only terrorist I know. Is the government.

We are living in a bizarro world, where right is wrong and wrong is right and all that is holy and sacred is mocked, and all that is profane is made mundane.
About the only way I can put it, is, the end is near.
dc

[JohnnyL]

The title is misleading, and should be...

[Spaced_Out]

Another 'copy cat' cop shooting 6 law enforcement officers shot and 3 dead so far. All persons enterig the hospital are now searched where the cops are... - it is going to end in a full scale civil war - which side do you choose or do you run for the hills (tent cities) and watch the world burn from a place of safety...

[Jason]

Another 'copy cat' cop shooting 6 law enforcement officers shot and 3 dead so far. All persons enterig the hospital are now searched where the cops are... - it is going to end in a full scale civil war - which side do you choose or do you run for the hills (tent cities) and watch the world burn from a place of safety...

Tent cities are no safer than any other city...

Trump and Hillary both tried to use the shooting to their advantage...

[Patriot16]

After Dallas Shootings, Police Arrest People for Criticizing Cops on Facebook and Twitter

Wait a minute. Your source, The Intercept, says it uses anonymous contributions for its stories. That means the contributions may not be verifyable. As a result, I have reasonably doubts about this news story.

Patriot16

[Jason]

"If this madness continues, we will surely perish as a people," East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said, adding that he did not see the bloodbath as being “about gun control as it is "If this madness continues, we will surely perish as a people," East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said, adding that he did not see the bloodbath as being “about gun control as it is what's in men's hearts.” in men's hearts.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... -1.2714761" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Spaced_Out]

Tent cities are no safer than any other city...

There are between 3-6 million preppers in the USA and speaking to them on various forums and publications as well at TV shows the majority of them believe one has to bug out to a secluded place for safety as the cites become death traps. It is simple logic and not based on any visions or scriptures etc....
"Tent cities are no safer than any other city" That is your opinion, the experts in the field disagree.

This is not the discussion for this thread, the point I was making is that things will soon escalate to the point where you either have to concede your liberties, fight or flee. Your choice according to the dictates of your conscience and direction that will be given by the church leadership if any.
Matt 24 Jesus said when we see these things flee to the hills.

[Jason]

Tent cities are no safer than any other city...

There are between 3-6 million preppers in the USA and speaking to them on various forums and publications as well at TV shows the majority of them believe one has to bug out to a secluded place for safety as the cites become death traps. It is simple logic and not based on any visions or scriptures etc....
"Tent cities are no safer than any other city" That is your opinion, the experts in the field disagree.

This is not the discussion for this thread, the point I was making is that things will soon escalate to the point where you either have to concede your liberties, fight or flee. Your choice according to the dictates of your conscience and direction that will be given by the church leadership if any.

Stupidity. The preppers are no more immune from challenges than any others...

Bug out from brick and mortar city to a tent city....makes a lot of sense [sarcasm off]...

Flee where exactly? Do you happen to know of an undiscovered part of the world as in times past when people fled?

Only solution is righteousness...and just because some people choose to be preppers does not automatically qualify them for righteousness. In fact I know a few who prefer to shoot first and ask questions later...and anybody bugging out in their neck of the woods will find themselves getting hunted to extinction.

[Jason]

"If this madness continues, we will surely perish as a people," East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said, adding that he did not see the bloodbath as being “about gun control as it is "If this madness continues, we will surely perish as a people," East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said, adding that he did not see the bloodbath as being “about gun control as it is what's in men's hearts.” in men's hearts.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... -1.2714761" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Gavin Eugene Long of Kansas City [Missouri] is identified as the man who shot three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers dead Sunday and injured three others, according to a law enforcement source.

http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/ ... 6401e.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

...interesting that he would travel that far to shoot some police...

[Joel]

today's killer:

[Spaced_Out]

Stupidity. The preppers are no more immune from challenges than any others...

Bug out from brick and mortar city to a tent city....makes a lot of sense [sarcasm off]...

Flee where exactly? See Matt 24 - it tells you where. Do you happen to know of an undiscovered part of the world as in times past when people fled?

Only solution is righteousness...and just because some people choose to be preppers does not automatically qualify them for righteousness. In fact I know a few who prefer to shoot first and ask questions later...and anybody bugging out in their neck of the woods will find themselves getting hunted to extinction.

Cites are death traps, those in the cities will be huntered first, why go wandering around the mountains to hunt a few soles - it serves no purpose. Brick and mortar will not survive the big earthquakes that are coming. In Japan they say earthquakes don't kill people but the buildings do. You have not thought this out very well.. all the experts in the field of disaster management highly recommend leaving large metropolitan cities. Do as you wish, if you are not fleeing you have then only two options fight or accept slavery - good luck with that.

Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

[Jason]

Stupidity. The preppers are no more immune from challenges than any others...

Bug out from brick and mortar city to a tent city....makes a lot of sense [sarcasm off]...

Flee where exactly? See Matt 24 - it tells you where. Do you happen to know of an undiscovered part of the world as in times past when people fled?

Only solution is righteousness...and just because some people choose to be preppers does not automatically qualify them for righteousness. In fact I know a few who prefer to shoot first and ask questions later...and anybody bugging out in their neck of the woods will find themselves getting hunted to extinction.

Cites are death traps, those in the cities will be huntered first, why go wandering around the mountains to hunt a few soles - it serves no purpose. Brick and mortar will not survive the big earthquakes that are coming. In Japan they say earthquakes don't kill people but the buildings do. You have not thought this out very well.. all the experts in the field of disaster management highly recommend leaving large metropolitan cities. Do as you wish, if you are not fleeing you have then only two options fight or accept slavery - good luck with that.

Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

I'm not in a large city. I mainly agree with you on a functional level but trying to make a different point....that is physical preparedness alone will not save....and people gathering in tent cities is not much different than gathering in brick and mortar cities...

[freedomforall]

Stupidity. The preppers are no more immune from challenges than any others...

Bug out from brick and mortar city to a tent city....makes a lot of sense [sarcasm off]...

Flee where exactly? See Matt 24 - it tells you where. Do you happen to know of an undiscovered part of the world as in times past when people fled?

Only solution is righteousness...and just because some people choose to be preppers does not automatically qualify them for righteousness. In fact I know a few who prefer to shoot first and ask questions later...and anybody bugging out in their neck of the woods will find themselves getting hunted to extinction.

Cites are death traps, those in the cities will be huntered first, why go wandering around the mountains to hunt a few soles - it serves no purpose. Brick and mortar will not survive the big earthquakes that are coming. In Japan they say earthquakes don't kill people but the buildings do. You have not thought this out very well.. all the experts in the field of disaster management highly recommend leaving large metropolitan cities. Do as you wish, if you are not fleeing you have then only two options fight or accept slavery - good luck with that.

Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

I'm not in a large city. I mainly agree with you on a functional level but trying to make a different point....that is physical preparedness alone will not save....and people gathering in tent cities is not much different than gathering in brick and mortar cities...

Perhaps some faith in Christ, belief in miracles, prayers and righteousness in the hearts of all concerned would help.

[Spaced_Out]

Perhaps some faith in Christ, belief in miracles, prayers and righteousness in the hearts of all concerned would help.

Perhaps but I am being negative, my faith is more like that of Mormon - rapid loss of hope that the people will repent, I see wickedness and political instability growing daily.

Another attack today in Germany a 17yo with an axe injuring 14...
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-07-1 ... rman-train" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mormon 3:11 And it came to pass that I, Mormon, did utterly refuse from this time forth to be a commander and a leader of this people, because of their wickedness and abomination.
12 Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts.

[freedomforall]

Perhaps some faith in Christ, belief in miracles, prayers and righteousness in the hearts of all concerned would help.

Perhaps but I am being negative, my faith is more like that of Mormon - rapid loss of hope that the people will repent, I see wickedness and political instability growing daily.

Another attack today in Germany a 17yo with an axe injuring 14...
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-07-1 ... rman-train" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mormon 3:11 And it came to pass that I, Mormon, did utterly refuse from this time forth to be a commander and a leader of this people, because of their wickedness and abomination.
12 Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts.

Let's leave this up to God. There are some righteous people living today, otherwise, why wouldn't God simply let everyone burn?
I think about when the Nephites were threatened with death if the sign of he Savior didn't appear. At the last moment the Savior told them that on the morrow he will come into the world.
We need to have faith that God will save his righteous children whoever they may be. The self-righteous need become humble and contrite, the humble, contrite and pure in heart may have hope for a glorious return of our Savior. The wicked, no chance.