America, We're Better Than This.

What do Justin Carter and Paula Deen have in common? Justin Carter is the 19 year old who is currently in jail with a $500,000. bond, charged with making terrorist threats in a Facebook post. And Paula Deen the former Food Network maven, has been demonized for admitting under oath that she said the "N - Word" in the past twenty years. N*&!% PLEASE!!!!

Both Carter and Deen are being punished far more than their offense warrants. I believe Deen will bounce back once the dust settles, just like Martha Stewart. On the other hand, Carter's current situation is bleak. His parents cannot afford the half a million dollar bond; and according to a recent article, "Father: Teen Jailed For Facebook Comment Beaten Up Behind Bars", Carter has been beaten, and apparently been put into solitary confinement, and suicide watch. There is a petition on Change.org - comment - with over 70,000 signatures as of this writing, July 4, 2013.

Justin Carter's mother's plea in the petition states:

"My son, Justin Carter, was arrested on February 14, 2013 (yes, Valentine’s Day) because of a sarcastic comment he posted on Facebook about a computer game which was then taken out of context by a complete stranger! Please sign my petition to help release my son, Justin."

Justin Carter's offending comment was:

"I think Ima shoot up a kindergarten / And watch the blood of the innocent rain down/ And eat the beating heart of one of them." But, according to various accounts he added "JK and lol" after his comment - just kidding and laugh out loud. He was being sarcastic. He was arguing with some other person about an online video game. No one was hurt. No one was ever threatened.

We are better than this. I don't know Justin Carter or his family. I do know that this has gone too far. America, today is July 4. It is a day of celebration for this great country.Free speech ... First Amendment ... innocent until proven guilty ... due process.

The article - Father: Teen Jailed for Facebook Comment Beaten Up Behind Bars - also states:

"The charge is a third-degree felony, which in Texas carries up to 10 years in prison. The Comal County District Attorney's office hasn't responded to our calls, but police in New Braunfels, Texas, who have investigated the case, say in a time of heightened sensitivity to school shootings, their interest is in preventing violence when they can."

Not too long after the Columbine shootings my own son who was a middle school student, received a death threat from another student. The other student told my son that he was going to bring a gun to school the following day and shoot him. My son went to the vice principal's office and reported the other student. I saw his one line statement - So and So said he was going to bring a gun to school and shoot me tomorrow. The school despite their purported zero tolerance policy didn't do much at all to protect my son. They questioned the other child; they contacted the other child's parents; and they searched the child's backpack the next day. They did not suspend him, they did not contact any law enforcement other than the school resource officer. The school officials easily satisfied themselves that the threat was not a real threat because the child had no access to a gun. (Supposedly no access - but how hard can it be?) I took my son out of that middle school and put him into a school of last resort where they had metal detectors and real police officers who would not only keep peace but protect my son. He did well there. And he was safe. The point of this story in this context is that there is discretion. There is discretion at every level in the criminal justice system. Just as the school used their discretion in my son's case, and decided that my son was not in danger, law enforcement and the state attorney's office have discretion in Justin Carter's case. 

The article - Father: Teen Jailed for Facebook Comment Beaten Up Behind Bars - also states:

"The whole situation is kind of unfortunate," said New Braunfels Police Lt. John Wells. "We definitely understand the situation that Mr. Carter is in, however he made the comments, and it is an offense. We have to ... protect the general public and specifically, in this case, with it involving schoolchildren, we have to act. We take those very seriously."

"... Kind of unfortunate ..." ????  This case does not involve children. No children were ever hurt or at risk. The only injured party is Justin Carter. Please America, let's cultivate our common sense. Happy Fourth of July.