Last week, retailer Travis Corcoran , owner of the Arlington, Mass. online retailer HeavyInk posted some repulsive comments on his personal blog about the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. We didn’t cover them because they were so obviously a sickening play for attention: “1 down, 534 to go.” After Bleeding Cool made the connection between Corcoran and the blog (which the retailer has since removed), creators tweeted that they didn’t want to be sold at HeavyInk, and Corcoran responded with several rambling, defiant blog posts, including such gems as
It is absolutely, absolutely unacceptable to shoot “indiscriminately”.
Target only politicians and their staff, and leave regular citizens alone.
Please!
Well, it’s a free country and people like Corcoran are certainly free to prove what giant assholes they are. However, threatening government officials in the current atmosphere seems like a particularly imprudent — not to mention insensitive — thing to do. And maybe it’s just plain dumb. The Boston Globe reports that authorities have taken away a sizable stash of guns and ammo found at Corcoran’s home while they investigate his threats. Corcoran’s firearms license has been suspended on the grounds of “suitability.”
Bongiorno said police found the comment reposted on ComicsAlliance.com in a story that said Corcoran first made the comment in a blog. Bongiorno said Corcoran has since redacted the comments, but police consider the threat to be credible until they can prove otherwise. Police have also contacted federal law enforcement agencies about the comment.
Last time we checked, we were still electing our officials the Constitutionally mandated way, so maybe it’s not yet time for that well-regulated militia to take arms against a sea of health care, Travis Corcoran to the contrary.
What current atmosphere? I’m lost. The shooting? Talk like this isn’t new, it’s been going on for years before/after every assassination attempt on any politick. I agree with the initial comment. Don’t fire indiscriminately.
I love the current rush of people who have no regard for the first amendment. Fuck free speech, this is the Obama Age!
Countdown to deletion…
@Crispy: nobody violated his right to free speech. Free speech doesn’t mean consequence-free speech. The man advocated for the killing of “politicians and their staff.” Gee, you think there might be some interest from law enforcement agencies?
Also, hate to rain on your Obama-hating parade, but the same thing would have happened under Bush, or any other administration. You publicly support the assassination of a federal judge and urge citizens to carry out similar killings, you deserve a visit from Johnny Law. Frankly, I wouldn’t want to live in a country where that wasn’t the case. (Incidentally, I have, and believe me, it’s no paradise.)
“Also, hate to rain on your Obama-hating parade, but the same thing would have happened under Bush.”
Exactly. Bush CREATED the Department of Homeland Security for this very purpose.
You have no absolute freedom of speech in the USA, as you like to believe.Slander and libel are not permitted and are regulated.
I trust the first commenter’s IP information has been forwarded to the relevant federal authorities, yes?
Free speech does not mean speech without consequence. Wish that folks would remember that.
Sounds like Travis suffers from the same mental disorder as the gentleman in Tuscon.
Beware Travis and people who think like he does!
However … the guy didn’t actual threaten a politician.
I can see the point … if Gifford was the target, why the hell did all of those other people get shot? I’m sure the 9-year old girl wasn’t able to leap in front of a bullet intended for her. Perhaps Jared Loughner figured he owed himself a few bonus victims.
Anyway, feel free to forward my IP to the authorities, even though I haven’t made any threats or condoned any violence.
if Gifford was the target, why the hell did all of those other people get shot? I’m sure the 9-year old girl wasn’t able to leap in front of a bullet intended for her. Perhaps Jared Loughner figured he owed himself a few bonus victims.
Hey, you answered your own question. Way to go, Other Rich.
I’m Canadian, and even I know the First Amendment has exceptions. A guy with a bunch of guns in his basement saying “target politicians and their staff” might reasonably be investigated as a “clear and present danger”.
How does a mental deficient like Travis here even GET a gun license in the first place?!? Did he get one in a box of cracker jacks?
I presume anyone who shares Corcoran’s views recognizes that they actually are not too ideologically apart from the killer who assassinated that Pakistani regional governor just recently.
“Hey, you answered your own question. Way to go, Other Rich.”
Yes, I did. Everyone else was too stupid to figure out the answer.