Re: Rage against spammers and telemarketers

[David M Chess <chess () us ibm com>]

> According to court documents, Charles W. Papenfus, 43, allegedly 
> told a sales representative during a May 18 telephone call that he 
> would burn down the building and kill the employees and their 
> families. He was indicted for making a terrorist threat, a Class D 
> felony; and he could be sentenced to up to four years in prison if 
> convicted.

Maybe I'm overlooking something key, but I'm finding the reactions on the 
thread here sort of puzzling.  I mean, if threatening to burn down a 
building and kill the occupants and their families isn't a terrorist 
threat, I don't know what is. 

Presumably he didn't say it in order to make the person at the other end 
of the line feel *more* secure in life and property, and to calm their 
fears...

Now maybe he didn't mean it, maybe he was just upset and speaking without 
any actual intent, and if so great he can use that in his defense at 
trial, and maybe he'll be acquitted as a result.

But really, if I yell into a phone that I'm going to burn down a building 
and kill a company's employees and their families, I would hope I *would* 
get to spend a little time in a quiet place, thinking about whether that 
was really a wise thing to say...

Not the kind of thing this left-libertarian usually finds himself writing 
to mailing lists,
DC

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