In February, Justin Carter was playing “League of Legends” — an online, multiplayer fantasy game — when another player wrote a comment calling him insane. Carter’s response, which he now deeply regrets, was intended as joke.

“He replied ‘Oh yeah, I’m real messed up in the head, I’m going to go shoot up a school full of kids and eat their still, beating hearts,’ and the next two lines were lol and jk,” said Jack Carter, Justin’s father, in a statement to a local news channel.

The statements “lol” and “jk” — meaning “laughing out loud” and “just kidding” — indicate that Justin’s statement was entirely sarcastic, said his father.

But a Canadian woman who saw the post looked up Carter’s Austin address, determined that it was near an elementary school, and called the police. Carter was arrested one month later, and has been in jail ever since. He recently celebrated his 19th birthday behind bars.

Authorities charged him with making a terrorist threat. If convicted, he will face eight years in prison.

“These people are serious. They really want my son to go away to jail for a sarcastic comment that he made,” said the elder Carter.

Authorities noted that recent school shootings like the one in Newtown, Connecticut have caused them to evaluate all potential threats seriously. Newtown was still fresh in their minds at the time of Carter’s arrest.

“In light of recent situations, statements such as the one Justin made are taken seriously,” said an Austin police detective in a statement.

Carter’s father said his son didn’t follow the news at all.

“Justin was the kind of kid who didn’t read the newspaper,” said Jack Carter. “He didn’t watch television. He wasn’t aware of current events. These kids, they don’t realize what they’re doing. They don’t understand the implications. They don’t understand.”

Carter’s parents have launched a change.org petition to convince Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot to release their son.

“Release Justin Carter from jail,” the petition reads. “Too many teenagers are being arrested, jailed and having their lives forever altered because of anti-terrorism laws and investigations that impede their 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech.”

 

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/27/texas-teen-makes-violent-joke-during-video-game-is-jailed-for-months/#ixzz2XgQn5s40

Really America the firetruck I just don't understand

What I don't get is why is this guy getting put in jail when other gamers make much more severe jokes about violence and even rape, but nobody gives a shit? Why isn't anyone questioning that kind of behaviour?

 

Because it's the internet and apparently that behavior is normal, and the ones who act indignant are the ones at fault for taking the internet seriously.  Like the fact there's a screen in between you somehow takes away the fact another human with feelings typed it up to begin with, and a human being with feelings reacted to what was in front of them.

I actually ran into a similar situation myself, minus the going to jail part but it was still pretty bad. I feel bad for the guy

Edited June 30, 201312 yr by Villi1997

Is man kind becoming more insane? What happened to the police's that would usually say "Just don't say stuff like that *Insert lecture here*"

This is what happens when you vote Democrat and feed money to the liberal media. Hunger for power and control coupled with emotion begin to override logic and reasoning. 

What have we learned today? Not to say violent jokes anymore.

This 18 year guy was arrested for a sarcastic remark when he was trash talking with someone about League of Legends.I know I've said worse things than he has. Most of you probably have too. In which case we all should go to jail. I should get the death sentence for some of the things I said online. But yeah. You should check it out.

 

http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/science_tech/justin-carter-facebook-threat-update-comal-county-district-court-in-texas-sets-bond-hearing-date

 

Also sign the petition for getting him out.

http://www.change.org/petitions/release-my-son-justin-carter-in-jail-for-a-facebook-comment

 

He's being treated like a terrorist. Sure his remark was in bad taste. But who hasn't said awesome things like that? He's been beaten up in jail a bunch of times too. He's facing an 8 year sentence or something like that. I just think it's incredibly awesome.

 

Sorry if this has been posted...I'm to lazy to look. 

That is firetrucked up.

Yeah,I saw that and I sign the petition,I really hope he doesn't pass the 8 years in jail for something this stupid.

 

Edited July 9, 201312 yr by Isaix

Well a lot of teenagers do think they can do what they want and not get into trouble. Not to mention that although Sandy Elementary school's shooting may have been like either this year or late past year, the effect still left a negative impression even to this day. So I think it's best to send him to jail for making a cruel joke like that.

Well a lot of teenagers do think they can do what they want and not get into trouble. Not to mention that although Sandy Elementary school's shooting may have been like either this year or late past year, the effect still left a negative impression even to this day. So I think it's best to send him to jail for making a cruel joke like that.

 

Like I said before, the world now believes that control and emotion is more important than logic and reasoning. 

Poor guy. This looked like a South Park episode. But now the real peoples made a shitstorm of stupidness.

There is legitimate reasoning to arrest someone who makes these kinds of threats that involve players in the game, but there is even more legitimacy to arresting someone when they make threats about people not even remotely associated to players of the game. When he talks about killing school kids, that has nothing to do with the people playing the game.  Those kinds of threats are better to go checked. I  don't think the kid should get any jail time, but we need to re-evaluate prosecuting threats over the internet. I am not for censorship of most things on the internet, but we can do without threats and harassment. 

Edited July 11, 201312 yr by legendkiller222

They should've investigated but certainly not arrested. That is just plain ridiculous.

It would have been "serious" if he didn't say, "lol jk" People need to calm down u.u

There is legitimate reasoning to arrest someone who makes these kinds of threats that involve players in the game, but there is even more legitimacy to arresting someone when they make threats about people not even remotely associated to players of the game. When he talks about killing school kids, that has nothing to do with the people playing the game.  Those kinds of threats are better to go checked. I  don't think the kid should get any jail time, but we need to re-evaluate prosecuting threats over the internet. I am not for censorship of most things on the internet, but we can do without threats and harassment. 

I personally don't like the idea of fighting against threats and harassment on the internet, because if you don't define that extremely specifically there could be so much that would go wrong with it. Also when you open a can of worms like censorship where do you stop? Because everyone has their own agendas, and beliefs about what is best for a nation.Edit: While I do agree the 'joke' this person made was in bad taste, it doesn't seem fair to jail him for it. Especially since he had the "lol jk." He was mimicing the joke on television where someone calls someone something, someone jokes about doing something obscene, and then have to say they weren't serious because the others didn't get it... Sure I doubt it is ever that bad on TV, but really I see no point in sending him to prison except to maybe protect him from ignorant people who might want to hurt him now that this case went public...

Edited July 15, 201312 yr by Tigerruss

This is some bullshit! They're firetrucking locking this kid up for making a joke, while there are ACTUAL CRIMINALS CAUSING DESTRUCTION IN THIS COUNTRY!! Are the people in the system firetrucking high?!?!

This is some bullshit! They're firetrucking locking this kid up for making a joke, while there are ACTUAL CRIMINALS CAUSING DESTRUCTION IN THIS COUNTRY!! Are the people in the system firetrucking high?!?!

Disturbingly they might be completely sober.

I personally don't like the idea of fighting against threats and harassment on the internet, because if you don't define that extremely specifically there could be so much that would go wrong with it. Also when you open a can of worms like censorship where do you stop? Because everyone has their own agendas, and beliefs about what is best for a nation.Edit: While I do agree the 'joke' this person made was in bad taste, it doesn't seem fair to jail him for it. Especially since he had the "lol jk." He was mimicing the joke on television where someone calls someone something, someone jokes about doing something obscene, and then have to say they weren't serious because the others didn't get it... Sure I doubt it is ever that bad on TV, but really I see no point in sending him to prison except to maybe protect him from ignorant people who might want to hurt him now that this case went public...

 

Well, I think cyberbulling can be an issue and that is something that shouldn't exist. While, I agree with you, people should refrain from laws censoring the internet, but we need to keep people safe as well. There has to be some sort of policy/law to protect people from cyber bulling and it is better to be done sooner before a tragedy happens and stricter laws gain traction. 

Well, I think cyberbulling can be an issue and that is something that shouldn't exist. While, I agree with you, people should refrain from laws censoring the internet, but we need to keep people safe as well. There has to be some sort of policy/law to protect people from cyber bulling and it is better to be done sooner before a tragedy happens and stricter laws gain traction. 

In a way what is happening in this case is the ultimate cyberbullying, someone making a distasteful joke and someone who probably wasn't even part of the conversation decided he is a terrible person needing to be jailed. it is like saying HEY YOU OVER THERE I CAN PICK ON YOU SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU DID SOMETHING I DIDN'T LIKE! And stricter laws would only amplify stuff like this.And yes cyberbullying can be a problem, though it is mostly because the person they are bullying either doesn't know how to deal with teasing or is actually getting bullied and the internet is one of their only refuges in life. And for that second option the real problem is that the internet is their only place of refuge. Sure there might be other options. But honestly those seem like the most common, and sometimes people get offended by comments not even directed to them on the internet...So anti-cyberbullying laws would just lead to lots of fines and jailing to people who bothered the wrong person. Why do I have this stance? Well, honestly I don't have faith in people especially when some new regulations could be used overzealously.

This is some bullshit! They're firetrucking locking this kid up for making a joke, while there are ACTUAL CRIMINALS CAUSING DESTRUCTION IN THIS COUNTRY!! Are the people in the system firetrucking high?!?!

 

Yes. No more joking around when you obviously dont mean it.

I say "I'm going to kill you" a lot to people. IT'S ALWAYS A JOKE.