Florida Shooters Network

I don't deny the right of people to shoot at any inanimate objects on private property. Nor do I deny them the right to post pictures of it on the internet. This is not about "rights"--this about being stupid and lacking judgment:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/us/secret-service-looks-into-image-of-obama-riddled-with-bullets.html

Shot-Up Image of President Draws a Secret Service Inquiry
By MARC LACEY

PHOENIX — The Secret Service said Thursday that it was looking into a photograph posted on the Internet that showed a group of young Arizona men posing in the desert with guns while holding up what appeared to be a bullet-riddled image of President Obama’s face.

The photograph showed seven casually dressed young men, four of whom clutched weapons and one of whom held up a T-shirt covered with small holes and gashes and bearing a likeness of Mr. Obama above the word “HOPE.” The weapons held aloft appeared to be a revolver, a bolt-action rifle and two assault rifles.

“We’re aware of it, and we’re conducting the appropriate follow-up steps,” said Ed Donovan, a Secret Service spokesman in Washington.

The photo, along with the remark “Another trip to the ranch,” was posted on Jan. 20 on the Facebook page of Sgt. Pat Shearer, a police officer in Peoria, Ariz., a Phoenix suburb. The image was removed from Sergeant Shearer’s page on Thursday afternoon shortly after inquiries about it to the Peoria Police Department. Sergeant Shearer, a decorated officer who was honored in 2007 for helping to save a driver trapped in a burning vehicle, did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

Jay A. Davies, a police spokesman, said in an e-mail that the department was conducting “an administrative investigation into any possible policy violations on the part of our employee.”

The photograph was also posted on the Facebook page of one of the young men holding a gun in the image. He was identified as a student at Peoria’s Centennial High School.

Danielle Airey, a spokeswoman for the Peoria Unified School District, said district officials were conducting an investigation and working to identify any students involved. “We will also wait to hear from local and federal authorities to cooperate with their investigations,” she said in an e-mail.

The Secret Service has an Internet Threat Desk that reviews online comments and images that raise potential threats to protected officials, especially the president. Mr. Obama made a brief visit to the Phoenix area on Wednesday.

“Individuals certainly have a right to free speech, but we certainly have a right to speak to individuals to see what their intent is,” Mr. Donovan said.

This is a crock of hooey. There is nothing in this photo which any reasonable person could possibly interpret as any kind of threat against the president.
I hope that all involved lawyer up and refuse to answer any questions.

I don't think it is a threat, either. I just think it is stupid and "not helping the cause".

People certainly have the right to be stupid, but I don't have to like it especially when the rest of us catch the blowback.

It may not have been the smartest thing for a police officer to post this photo on Facebook, but I don't see the photo or any action contained within as "stupid", nor does it meet the standard of reasonable suspicion.



If it were me, I would instruct my attorney to tell them to take a flying leap.

I have a collection of political signs which I use as targets. They're plentiful, free (for me), and do an excellent job for what I use them for.
Some are even McCain/Palin signs!

You are talking about attorneys, reasonable suspicion, etc. I'm not.

Plainly, you don't get it. There is an election to win. Things like this don't help. The election is not going to be decided by people like you--try to get outside of your own world on this.

tector wrote:There is an election to win. Things like this don't help.

I don't believe that any American voter hasn't already decided whether they are voting for Obama or against him. The only variable is who the alternative will be.

armedinpasco wrote:It may not have been the smartest thing for a police officer to post this photo on Facebook, but I don't see the photo or any action contained within as "stupid", nor does it meet the standard of reasonable suspicion.



If it were me, I would instruct my attorney to tell them to take a flying leap.

I have a collection of political signs which I use as targets. They're plentiful, free (for me), and do an excellent job for what I use them for.
Some are even McCain/Palin signs!

Stupid:
Guy with revolver pointed at friend's head. Friend with AK pointed at friend's foot. Guy with Scar (I think) with booger hook in the trigger guard.

armedinpasco wrote:

tector wrote:There is an election to win. Things like this don't help.

I don't believe that any American voter hasn't already decided whether they are voting for Obama or against him. The only variable is who the alternative will be.

You are absolutely wrong. I don't mean to sound harsh, but you really do need to get out more and interact with differing kinds of people.

If what you said was true, there would be no need for anyone to campaign after the GOP nominee is chosen. And the polls would never move after the same point.

Their biggest 'stupidity' was posting it on facebook and thinking that it would remain private and wouldnt be used against them.

jaybird wrote:Their biggest 'stupidity' was posting it on facebook and thinking that it would remain private and wouldnt be used against them.

Yes. And us.

I think you're overreacting to an isolated event that most independent voters won't even hear or care about.

tector wrote:You are absolutely wrong. I don't mean to sound harsh, but you really do need to get out more and interact with differing kinds of people.

You could be right...
I do live on the Alabama-Tennessee line, not to mention right in the heart of Defense/Space Central.
Around these parts, it's pretty easy to tell who's voting for whom in 2012.

Back in 2005 or 2006 a police officer (trainee?) in Tampa was fired for saying derogetory and threatening things about President Bush. Threatening the president is against the law, but I don't think charges were filed.