‘Hate’ blogger Hal Turner turns himself in to Connecticut police
By Matthew Shaer | 06.11.09
The blogosphere, infamously, is a pretty big place – big enough, anyway, to hold thousands of opinions from all points on the political spectrum. But today police are saying that one blogger, Harold “Hal” Turner, crossed the line when he suggested some Connecticut government officials should “obey the Constitution or die.”
Turner, a New Jersey native, was apparently angry about proposed legislation that would have given lay members of Roman Catholic churches in Connecticut more control over their parish’s finances, the Associated Press is reporting. The blogger and radio show host turned himself in to the Connecticut police this afternoon on a charge of inciting violence.
“It is our intent to forment [sic] direct action against these individuals personally,” Turner wrote on his blog, according to the AP. “These beastly government officials should be made an example of as a warning to others in government: Obey the Constitution or die.” The blog, turnerradionetwork.blogspot.com, has since been removed from the Blogger network.
Turner has a long and storied history with inflammatory speech. In 2007, he told the audience of his radio program that, “a well-placed bullet can solve a lot of problems.” He was referring to former President George W. Bush. Turner has also written that “we need to start SHOOTING AND KILLING Mexicans as they cross the border,” and in 2006, he published the home addresses of several justices on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
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2. thomas | 06.12.09
Next time you voice your oppinion you should go to jail too by your line of thinking. I dont want to live in a country that will put me in jail for speaking my mind and heart. (for the record i think he went too far) but that is just my opinion.
Freedom has a cost, other people’s freedom has to be accepted as well.
But surprise….. america is only partly free.
3. Jim Enfield | 06.12.09
@Thomas
I hope that we are more civilized than that; rational and responsible citizens understand that shouting “fire!” in a crowded theater, or trying to incite others to kill those with whom they disagree is not protected speech.
4. lookkool | 06.13.09
Aside from serving as the North Jersey coordinator for Pat Buchanan’s 1992 presidential campaign, a 2005 article by The Nation points out that Hannity “offered his top-rated radio show as a regular forum for Turner’s occasionally racist, always over-the-top rants.” In 2007, Hannity backed away from his association with Turner in a tit-for-tat debate with Black Panther leader Malik Shabazz.
DHS report was spot on right wing extreamests are a danger to the people of this country.IMO so is Rush , Hannity , Coulter and the like on right wing radio. They egg them on .
5. Ricardo | 06.13.09
I think, the cristians got what they payed for, they bought the law in that town, and the only person alerting to what was going on has een silenced.
Dont forget, it is the christians who are full of false claims, and is their book that preaches death, and slavery, and other sorts of bad things.
Why cant someone say that christians should be killed if they dont follow the constitution, but christians can say you will burn in hell if you have gay sex?
It would be great to see the police treat the christians the very same way.
for me, the police has been bought. Freedom of speach should not have limits, and while legal institutions like churches can print out and spread out hate, noone can hate the church? I hate the church, and if they receive priviledges, i am totally against it.
Religion must not interfere at all with the peoples state!
6. steinbergerstein | 06.13.09
Either free speech is free, or it’s not. Turner never directed anyone to kill anyone and frankly, these politicians hide behind free speech to advance an agenda and then they opposing speech as hate.
@ jimbo and to those who condemn distasteful speech, your speech will be next!
7. Tom | 06.13.09
Study the law and you will find he’s within his rights to say what he said. You know we;re living in an environment that doesn’t respect the citizens rights anymore. It is a human right to speak out against a dictatorial government such as we have. The Conn. AG is the one who should be on trial for denying Mr. Turner’s first amendment right. They should also remember that the first amendment is backed up by the second.
8. dan kardas | 06.13.09
Government officials who do not obey the Constitution are Traitors. The maximum sentence for traitors to the Constitution could range from life in prison with no parole, or the death sentence. So what is all the hullabaloo about Turners comments.
By the way, don’t support Un-Constitutional government, don’t pay your state income tax or your federal income tax.
Dan Kardas
Milford CT
Molon Labe
Socialism=Slavery
9. The Bobster | 06.14.09
“but get these wussies out on the street and let’s have ‘em put up their dukes.”
So you advocate violence against those you disagree with to silence them? You sound like the bully. How “American” of you.
10. Citizen | 06.14.09
“…trying to incite others to kill those with whom they disagree is not protected speech.”
So the words of George Washington, (Revolutionary War), and Abraham Lincoln, (Civil War), were not protected speech?
Seems to me you are picking and choosing to whom civil rights apply: A far more dangerous thing than the charges against Turner.
11. Rudiger | 06.18.09
Everybody is for free speech, until they hear something they don`t like.
Hal Turner even toned down his speech. After his hiatus.
12. Antoinette | 06.27.09
Free speech is not protected, if you yell “fire” in a movie theater or mention you have a ‘bomb’ on an airplane. If a person threatened your life, would you sit by and say to yourself “It’s just free speech” or would you call the police. Chances are all of you would call the police.
Turner’s mindset is dangerous. He advocates others to murder individuals he disagrees with. This is not acceptable in this society. People who think this way are sick.
And lastly, how could someone like Sean Hannity have a guy like this on his radio show. Someone needs to ask him that question.
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1. jimbo | 06.11.09
Good…we need to continue to call these bully/cowards to the mat. They hiss and spit behind their microphones in their cozy radio stations, but get these wussies out on the street and let’s have ‘em put up their dukes. They won’t. They will turn tail and run and wait for some crackpot listener to do what they are way too cowardly to even conceive of doing.