Blogs vs. Freedom of Speech

Filed in archive Blogs on September 30, 2008

As we've discussed here, the Internet has been a positive development to our lives. But like any new technology, it also has downsides. For example, say something on a website that someone could take as a threat and it could lead you to big trouble.

Like Jeffrey Gargaro, for example, who says he was "just expressing his opinion" when he posted a blog entry about a Washington shooting rampage. After the shooting, bloggers started logging on to a site to vent about and discuss the attack. Gargaro became frustrated at what others were saying and wrote:

"Also to all of you who blame drugs ... shut up as well. You know what, I am going to go shoot up sunset Square today ... just for the hell of it. No drugs, no mental illness ... you can blame today's episode on video games and George Bush's example of 'pay back' to society."

Apparently prosecutors say the police felt this was a serious threat, and therefore called it malicious harassment. Gargaro, for his part, says while he could have worded it differently he's not sorry because in no way did he intend any harm.

What do you think? Can someone write anything they want on a blog without consequence? Should action be taken if they write something that could be considered harmful?