An ironic death threat delivered on Facebook

Unbelievable.

I was having a nice polite discussion on a friend’s Facebook posting today dealing with the First Amendment.  A guy that used to be a FB friend of mine (and a Fraternity Brother in real life) chimed in that FB was not the place to have political discussions.  I politely pointed out that the posting was on someone else’s wall that obviously believed differently and that he was of course free to not read those posts or comments.

I and the other person carried on with our respectful discussion.  I left my computer to watch a movie with my wife.  After the movie I logged back in and low and behold my old “friend” and posted another comment, rather than ignore us as I had pointed out he was free to do.

In addition to the comment he sent a Message to me.

The night is filled with irony.

1. The movie we were watching? Unthinkable.  It’s about the lengths you would  go to in a “ticking timebomb” scenario if faced with Nuke’s planted in American cities and set to explode in three days.

2. The discussion on the FB Wall was about First Amendment Rights.  One of the points I had made in that discussion was:

“I don’t want ANYONE telling me, you or anyone else who they can associate with or how they can express individually or collectively what they want to say. I want there to be the free flow of ideas. Those I agree with and those I don’t.”

3. The message he sent to me:

“Look Dave. If you keep on posting your ridiculous right wing shit, you’re going to get some lead in your throat. You decide fuckbag.”

Trying to decide if I should contact Facebook and report his abuse (at a minimum) or should I also contact the FBI since he lives in another state and has now made a death threat via electronic means.

I have attached a PDF copy of the original discussion thread as well as a PDF of his death threat directed to me.

Discussion on Joe Barnetts Facebook Wall

Death Threat from Joe Hunt

Once again proves the point that those that scream for tolerance extend none to others that beleieve different from them. Sad that there are people walking around so filled with hate and rage.

Joe is now posting outright threats to put a bullet in my head.  Also love his comment that he just bought an AK-47 on line.  Wonder how Mayor Daley in the fine city of Chicago will appreaciate one of his fine folks exercising his 2nd Amendment Rights to stop someone else from exercising their First Amendment Rights.

Public Threat

Joes Profile

Just sent a note to his place of employment to warn them of their unstable employee.  Will be sending them screen grabs of his postings.  Hope he gets the help he needs before he hurts someone.

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Update: Joe basically issued an apology this morning (8/22).  Appreaciate it. 

…I said it and it was absolutely wrong of me. Despite the fact that Dave and I have nothing in common, I’ve always considered him to be an extremely honorable person.

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Update: Joe followed up with a more formal apology (8/23).  This one is much appreciated since it was actually addressed to me.

Dear Dave,

I really don’t know the proper way to apologize for the ridiculous things that I wrote to you on Facebook the other night. I have no excuse and you most certainly did not deserve it. I had a really bad weekend, and to make it even worse I had more than a few beers in me. The political stuff on Facebook has always bothered me and I’ve had to get rid of several friends on both sides of the political spectrum because of the incessant cut and paste articles and rants. But that is my problem, not your’s or Joe Barnett’s. I am ashamed of the things I wrote and I am extremely sorry.

For the record, I have never owned a gun nor do I ever intend to. I don’t even think I’ve been in a fist fight since around the 7th grade. The stuff I wrote was simply a bunch of nonsense, but I fully understand the seriousness of making those kinds of threats. I have a family that I love more than anything in the world and if someone made threats to me like that, I know I wouldn’t take it lightly.

I hope you will forgive me.

Sincerely, Joe