The Patriot Act of 2001, Section 802, (a), (5), (A), (B), (i) defines Domestic Terrorism as acts that "involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State and appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population."
The student body at Franklin, Massachusetts High School certainly qualifies as a "civilian population." David Salmon's criminal act was certainly dangerous to human life. His Majesty is more than physically powerful enough to kill someone. And the fact that he had Jeremiah Ramirez video the crime and post it online leaves little doubt that he intended every student in that school to feel intimidated.
Let's hear from the legal experts out there. Either the authorities are going to put their money where their mouths are and aggressively prosecute domestic terrorists or Chicken Soup cordially invites them to stop whining about terrorism.
Since you asked, I have my own ideas about dealing with bullies and they don't have anything to do with any doctrine more complex than "Fuck with me then watch your back for the rest of your life." As you've noted, the "justice" system is no protection to the individual; borrowing a concept from my punk-rock days, DIY.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, but believe it or not there are things I won't put into writing for obvious legal reasons.
ReplyDeleteIt was a sucker punch... cowardly and stupid sure, but hardly an act of 'terrorism'. I hope he gets to spend a little time with ACTUAL tough guys in lockup. Maybe 30 or 60 days would be a good 'motivator' for him to clean up his act.
ReplyDeleteFact is, bullies like him will usually get their 'come-uppance' when they find themselves pumping gas into the expensive vehicles of their former victims. The 'nerds' in high school almost always go on to live wonderful lives, while the jocks and bullies seldom make much of themselves. They quickly realize that might does NOT make right, and that the world is a very hard place for those who operate in that capacity.
Anyone who has had their 20 year high school reunion will tend to back me on this.
The stereotype of the bully pumping gas and the victim moving on to a rewarding career is just a stereotype. It provides an iota of emotional comfort to those who are naive.
ReplyDeleteDavid Salmon is not a naughty child. He's a large, physically powerful sociopath who wants to be feared by as many of his peers as possible and he was willing to risk crippling or killing another student in order to achieve that goal.
He's a terrorist.