'Joke or not, these types of comments are felonies': Police arrest Florida teen for online threat

[groundloop]

Source: ABC News

A 15-year-old student was arrested in Central Florida after authorities said he made an online threat to shoot up his school.

The unnamed teenage boy, who attends Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, allegedly posted a comment on a video game chat platform last week using a fake name, vowing to bring his father's M15 assault rifle to school and kill seven people "at a minimum," according to a statement from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

The comment was reported to the FBI, which contacted the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. The teenager allegedly admitted to posting the comment but insisted it was just a joke.

"Joke or not, these types of comments are felonies under the law," the sheriff's office said in a statement Monday. "After the mass violence we've seen in Florida and across the country, law enforcement officers have a responsibility to investigate and charge those who choose to make these types of threatening statements."

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/joke-types-comments-felonies-police-arrest-florida-teen/story?id=65070169&cid=clicksource_4380645_null_hero_hed

[IronLionZion]

1. Kids these days grew up with mass shootings

and should know it's not funny at all

[Cracklin Charlie]

2. With due respect, mr sheriff,

It’s about time.

I wonder how many of these “jokes” have been let slide? I appreciate the sheriff’s public warning to others who may have similar thoughts.

I think more of those warnings would be helpful.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Throw the book at them...start really cracking down on these kids who seem to think that...

this is some kind of macho game or something, when in fact, it is innocent people of all ages getting hurt in the cross fire. Need to stop this slaughter and bloodshed.

I glad that the sheriff's office will charge them with making these felony threats...and I don't care if they are only 15 years old...they can still pull the trigger and kill/hurt others.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. M15? NT

[Doc_Technical]

11. It's a hybrid

of an AR-15 and a M-16.

[Merlot]

5. Did any one check to see if his father actually has an assault rifle?

It doesn't sound like a joke, sounds very specific. Saying it's a joke is probably what this kid thinks is his "get out of jail free" card.

[B Stieg]

6. Exactly. And what about body armor?

I bet he bought that on his own...

[Jedi Guy]

7. I guarantee you he doesn't.

The M15 is a variant of the M14, and was military only. The odds of some random yutz having one of those are very long indeed.

This kid probably didn't even know such a gun exists. I'd be willing to bet he meant to say AR-15.

[kaotikross]

9. or M16

and it was a typo, although with some of these repub gun kooks you never know, they love collecting rare guns to play army man with

[Cerridwen]

16. NRA Gun of the week - M-15(TM) Defensive Sporting Rifle - about $700 (edited)

https://www.armalite.com/product/m15-def15-defensive-sporting-rifle/

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/modern-sporting-rifles/armalite-m-15-defensive-sporting-rifle/p/p41849

edited to add NRA gun of the week video

[Jedi Guy]

19. Maybe that's the gun he meant, then.

The one I found info on was an M14 variant that was used as a squad automatic weapon, so very unlikely to be found in civilian hands.

The one you linked appears to be an AR-15 variant since it's from the same manufacturer. Maybe the dash between the M and the 15 makes a difference?

[Harker]

20. Defensive sporting rifle?

That's offensive.

[Turbineguy]

8. Must be that

republican sense of humor when shooting people is fun.

[MissMillie]

10. It's terrorism

Whether or not the violence actually takes place, the threat is enough to create fear, or terror.

And when people live in fear, they bring in the guns.... and the rest is history.

[JohnnyRingo]

12. Jokes have punchlines.

This may not have been a credible threat, but it wasn't a joke.
At best it was blustering or lying, something that can't be tolerated anymore. Anyone with common sense knows that by now, regardless of age.

I don't want this kid in prison, but punish him the same as if he pulled a fire alarm or called 911 with a false report.

[Doc_Technical]

13. Why does conservative humor

mostly have to do with assault, kidnapping,
rape, torture, and murder?

[NastyRiffraff]

14. I'm glad to see this

We don't know how many so-called jokes have been overlooked. There are limits to free speech, including making verbal threats of bodily harm. I bet this brat is whining about free speech even now.

[Yavin4]

15. They can arrest you for making jokes about bombs in an airport

And no one complains.

[oldsoftie]

17. Damn straight.

[moonseller66]

18. But DL one pirate copy of the RIAA's music...

and go to jail, pay a hefty fine, lose your computer
or all of the above.

We'll see what happens to these people who threaten others with physical harm. Probably not as severe a punishment Movie or Music Piracy.