Support NeoGAF

[ShadowRed]

First of all let me say that I don't condone what the guy said but get the fuck out of here to charge the guy with a crime is BS. The guy should have been questioned and maybe even assigned to another area when Bush came to town, but this is way too fucking much.



Tampa Police officer threatens to kill President Bush

By:Bill McGinty


Tampa, Florida - Tampa police officer Joseph Mazagwu has been arrested and charged with threatening to kill President George Bush when the President was here in July.

STEVE HOGUE, Tampa Police Chief:
“He apparently went in to a local business and made these comments. It was reported to another police officer and we called the Secret Service at once.”

In Federal Court today, the U.S. Atty.’s office quoted Mazagwu’s conversation with a dry cleaning employee on July 15th. Mazagwu allegedly said he wanted nothing to do with protecting the President and went on to criticize the President’s policies in both Iraq and Africa. The conversation ended with Mazagwu allegedly saying that both the President and his father, former President Bush, should be shot.

He reportedly went on to say that if he had enough bullets, he’d shoot the President in the head himself.Mazagwu has no prior criminal record and served in the Army from 1991 to 2002 when he was discharged with honor. We told Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the President’s brother, about the arrest today.

If convicted of this crime, Mazagwu could face up to five years in prison and would never be allowed to own of have a gun again.

 

[Dujour]

You're free to speak as long as no one is listening.

Think for yourself. Question authority.

 

[SlickWilly223]

Eh, considering that President Bush was in the area at the time that he said that, it can certainly be taken seriously. Especially under the circumstances of how many people hate GW.

And saying "If I had enough bullets, I'd shoot him in the head" is just a fucking dumb thing to say. Nobody should defend this guy, and his threats should be taken seriously.

 

[BruceWayne]

It IS against the law to threaten to kill the president of the United States.

However, it is not against the law to write a book about it.

 

[SKluck]

There ARE limits to some things, you know.

"Here, let me write out complete plans how to make a nuclear bomb and put it on the internet, as well as blueprints to every govt building. ITS FREE SPEECH I CAN DO WHAT I WANT"

Nopers.

 

[Boomer]

Haha, good one Shadow.

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

Bush Head: He got arrestred! UHuHuhuhuhU!
Cheavis: Yeah ehehehhehe! what a dumbass ehehehehh!

 

[BlackMage]

Bush Head: He got arrestred! UHuHuhuhuhU!
Cheavis: Yeah ehehehhehe! what a dumbass ehehehehh!

laughing..my..ass..off

 

[ManaByte]

First of all let me say that I don't condone what the guy said but get the fuck out of here to charge the guy with a crime is BS. The guy should have been questioned and maybe even assigned to another area when Bush came to town, but this is way too fucking much.

As another poster said, it IS against the law to do what he did even if he may have been joking. There are certain things you simply do not joke about in public, he broke a law that has been a law a lot longer than Bush 1.0 or 2.0 have been President so bitching about it now is stupid.

 

[MaddenNFL64]

Bush Head: He got arrestred! UHuHuhuhuhU!
Cheavis: Yeah ehehehhehe! what a dumbass ehehehehh!

:lol

 

[maharg]

As another poster said, it IS against the law to do what he did even if he may have been joking. There are certain things you simply do not joke about in public, he broke a law that has been a law a lot longer than Bush 1.0 or 2.0 have been President so bitching about it now is stupid.

The law's age makes it indisputably good? This is an odd logic.

 

[MetatronM]

The law's age makes it indisputably good? This is an odd logic.

You can't just let people run around saying how they are going to assassinate the President, though.

If somebody told you they were going to round up all the black people in town and shoot them, don't you think that you would take that to the police? It's the same thing. Just cause we have freedom of speech doesn't mean there aren't consequences for the things you say.

 

[maharg]

You can't just let people run around saying how they are going to assassinate the President, though.

If somebody told you they were going to round up all the black people in town and shoot them, don't you think that you would take that to the police? It's the same thing. Just cause we have freedom of speech doesn't mean there aren't consequences for the things you say.

I may, but I wouldn't expect him to get arrested for it, nor get several years imprisonment.

And I'm sorry, but the meaning of freedom of expression is EXACTLY that. Saying something is not the same as doing something. If there are consequences, they should not, imo, involve criminal charges. That's just plain outright thought policing.

If the secret service wants to tail the man or restrict his access to areas in which the president may go, fine.

 

[fart]

this is a balance of rights thing. but in this case i think the guy doesn't deserve anything more than anger management and if possible a military de-indoctrination. i mean seriously, the us government (that trained him to express himself violently) can hardly punish him for expressing himself with violent rhetoric.