[POLL] Teen Questioned Over Violent Threats Against the President on MySpace

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
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Teen Questioned Over Bush Threats on MySpace
Secret Service Agents Remove 14-Year-Old Girl From Class
By DON THOMPSON, AP

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 14) - Upset by the war in Iraq, Julia Wilson vented her frustrations with President Bush last spring on her Web page on MySpace.com.

She posted a picture of the president, scrawled "Kill Bush" across the top and drew a dagger stabbing his outstretched hand. She later replaced her page on the social-networking site after learning in her eighth-grade history class that such threats are a federal offense.

It was too late.

Federal authorities had found the page and placed Wilson on their checklist. They finally reached her this week in her molecular biology class.

The 14-year-old freshman was taken out of class Wednesday and questioned for about 15 minutes by two Secret Service agents. The incident has upset her parents, who said the agents should have included them when they questioned their daughter.

On Friday, the teenager said the agents' questioning led her to tears.

"I wasn't dangerous. I mean, look at what's (stenciled) on my backpack - it's a heart. I'm a very peace-loving person," said Wilson, an honor student who describes herself as politically passionate. "I'm against the war in Iraq. I'm not going to kill the president."

Her mother, Kirstie Wilson, said two agents showed up at the family's home Wednesday afternoon, questioned her and promised to return once her daughter was home from school.

After they left, Kirstie Wilson sent a text message to her daughter's cell phone, telling her to come straight home: "There are two men from the secret service that want to talk with you. Apparently you made some death threats against president bush."

"Are you serious!?!? omg. Am I in a lot of trouble?" her daughter responded.

Moments later, Kirstie Wilson received another text message from her daughter saying agents had pulled her out of class.

Julia Wilson said the agents threatened her by saying she could be sent to juvenile hall for making the threat.

"They yelled at me a lot," she said. "They were unnecessarily mean."

Spokesmen for the Secret Service in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., said they could not comment on the case.

Wilson and her parents said the agents were justified in questioning her over her MySpace.com posting. But they said they believe agents went too far by not waiting until she was out of school.

They also said the agents should have more quickly figured out they weren't dealing with a real danger. Ultimately, the agents told the teen they would delete her investigation file.

Assistant Principal Paul Belluomini said the agents gave him the impression the girl's mother knew they were planning to question her daughter at school. There is no legal requirement that parents be notified.

"This has been an ongoing problem," said Ann Brick, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union in San Francisco.

Former Govs. Pete Wilson and Gray Davis vetoed bills that would have required that parents give consent or be present when their children are questioned at school by law enforcement officers. A similar bill this year cleared the state Senate but died in the Assembly.

Julia Wilson plans to post a new MySpace.com page, this one devoted to organizing other students to protest the Iraq war.

"I decided today I think I will because it (the questioning) went too far," she said.

 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
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yes the SS had the right ot talk to her. she did something that was a threat to Bush. BUT her parents and a lawyer should have been present when questioned.

 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
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Originally posted by: waggy
yes the SS had the right ot talk to her. she did something that was a threat to Bush. BUT her parents and a lawyer should have been present when questioned.

There is no law that her parents have to be present and she did not ask for a lawyer.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
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Originally posted by: Lonyo
Big Brother's watching you ¬_¬

How is this "Big Brother?" She posted the threats on the WORLD WIDE web.
 

bctbct

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2005
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Why was she not arrested? She crossed the line and to be upset about the questioning is rediculious.

I cant stand Bush but there is a line.
 

sonambulo

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2004
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well i think that, we really need to know if she at least got some autographed 8 x 10 photos of president bush out of this deal
 

yosuke188

Platinum Member
Apr 19, 2005
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You can't threaten to kill anyone, even if you're white. Just imagine if some Iraqi posted that on MySpace. They would be flagged as a terrorist and hunted down real quick.
 

ForumMaster

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2005
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i hate bush as much as any other but she did go over the line. but nonetheles,, the SS could have waited for her at home rather then take her out of school. the only thing i wonder, is why were the SS surfing MySpace?
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
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Originally posted by: bctbct
Originally posted by: acemcmac
"KILL BUSH"

I for one, welcome a visit from my secret service overlords


hope that your wish is granted.

And I hope in twenty or thirty years time, the thought police sterilize you for completley missing out on the meaning of the Bill of Rights

Words can't hurt people. That's why they're protected.
 
May 31, 2001
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Originally posted by: ForumMaster
i hate bush as much as any other but she did go over the line. but nonetheles,, the SS could have waited for her at home rather then take her out of school. the only thing i wonder, is why were the SS surfing MySpace?

Could have been reported by anyone, or did it specifically say that they were the ones that found it?
 

bctbct

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2005
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Originally posted by: acemcmac
Originally posted by: bctbct
Originally posted by: acemcmac
"KILL BUSH"

I for one, welcome a visit from my secret service overlords


hope that your wish is granted.

And I hope in twenty or thirty years time, the thought police sterilize you for completley missing out on the meaning of the Bill of Rights

Words can't hurt people. That's why they're protected.

Well if a person feels threatened that would be "hurt", probably why there are laws against this that have be created after the Bill Of Rights.

 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,924
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Sure, they have to investigate death threats against the president. That's their job.

No I don't think they should have waited for her parents, since it doesn't sound like they had any intention of charging her with a crime. They were just scaring her to teach her a lesson.

I'm sure her Myspace page protesting the war will be very successful considering she's a clueless child.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
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Originally posted by: acemcmac
Originally posted by: bctbct
Originally posted by: acemcmac
"KILL BUSH"

I for one, welcome a visit from my secret service overlords


hope that your wish is granted.

And I hope in twenty or thirty years time, the thought police sterilize you for completley missing out on the meaning of the Bill of Rights

Words can't hurt people. That's why they're protected.

Please show me when violent threats have ever been protected speech.

While you're at it, show me when libel/slander have ever been protected speech.

Finally, show me when incitement has ever been protected speech.

A "right" that infringes on the rights of others can be no right at all.

Sterilize yourself for missing out on common sense.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
55,826
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Originally posted by: JLGatsby
Whoever votes Yes for the first question is a moron.

Really? The police cannot question people for making violent threats?
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
13,712
1
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Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: acemcmac
Originally posted by: bctbct
Originally posted by: acemcmac
"KILL BUSH"

I for one, welcome a visit from my secret service overlords


hope that your wish is granted.

And I hope in twenty or thirty years time, the thought police sterilize you for completley missing out on the meaning of the Bill of Rights

Words can't hurt people. That's why they're protected.

Please show me when violent threats have ever been protected speech.

While you're at it, show me when libel/slander have ever been protected speech.

Finally, show me when incitement has ever been protected speech.

Oh my god... :roll:
 
Oct 4, 2004
10,521
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Right. The Al-Qaeda hasn't killed Bush yet but a 14-year-old White Californian Girl might be a threat.

This is plain stupid.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
55,826
13,871
146
Originally posted by: acemcmac
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: acemcmac
Originally posted by: bctbct
Originally posted by: acemcmac
"KILL BUSH"

I for one, welcome a visit from my secret service overlords


hope that your wish is granted.

And I hope in twenty or thirty years time, the thought police sterilize you for completley missing out on the meaning of the Bill of Rights

Words can't hurt people. That's why they're protected.

Please show me when violent threats have ever been protected speech.

While you're at it, show me when libel/slander have ever been protected speech.

Finally, show me when incitement has ever been protected speech.

Oh my god... :roll:

So you believe a "right" is absolute, even when that right infringes on the rights of others?
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
55,826
13,871
146
Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Right. The Al-Qaeda hasn't killed Bush yet but a 14-year-old White Californian Girl might be a threat.

This is plain stupid.

And when the first threat they do not investigate ends up in an assassination, you'll be the first one to crow about how incompetent they are.