The words we utter can be calm, or wise, or kind, or brilliant, or angry, or hateful and threatening. Once uttered, the words belong to us. We create them, and we are responsible for what they create in the world.
When a person declares that they will kill grade school children and put two bullets in the rabbi’s head, they own these words and should be held accountable for them.
Yes, the First Amendment to the Constitution grants us free speech. But that does not permit us to cry fire in a crowded theater. It does not permit us to threaten the lives of our fellow citizens. This is not free speech. It is fear speech that harms our ability to live together in peace, to care about each other, and to be open and accepting of the ideas of other people. It puts fear in the way of caring relationships, creates hatred between groups, and fosters violence as a way to solve problems.
This is why David Lenio should be convicted of a felony so that he can no longer own or use firearms, will be evaluated by mental health professionals, and treated if he is diagnosed with mental illness. The judge placed a restriction on his release on probation under his father’s supervision in Michigan. The judge denied him use of social media during this time. It is suspected that he has violated that order and that the content of his communications have been hate filled as well.
A five-day trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 19. Love Lives Here in the Flathead Valley is hopeful that David Lenio will be convicted of a felony and that he will be held responsible for his threatening behavior.
Ina Albert, founder
Rabbi Allen Secher, founder
Will Randall, founder
Love Lives Here in the Flathead Valley