[grouseway]

Lets not be too smug. Plenty of Americans who speak out on any type of political issue receive death threats. Sure it's not from the state but does that make a difference if you have to live in fear?

Here is one example, but you've probably seen this lots of times.

https://www.wmay.com/2018/10/02/cartoonist-says-hes-getting-...

The irony is the type of people doing this are probably also the types with bumper stickers praising the constitution.

[dsfyu404ed]

>Sure it's not from the state but does that make a difference if you have to live in fear?

It makes a massive difference!

If some random person tries to kill you and you blow their brains out in self defense the court will almost certainly back you up (assuming it's legitimate self defense). If random person someone tries to kill you and the police happen to be nearby they will probably intervene.

In contrast, if the state comes after you you're screwed. If you defend yourself you're even more screwed. You can't even call the cops.

[grouseway]

The effect is the same: keep your mouth shut. It's not worth going to prison and it's not worth getting shot.

I was just trying to point out how people don't really support freedom of speech when it comes to something that makes them angry - which is often the important stuff to be talking about.

[testvox]

It makes a huge difference. Living in fear is still better then living in a jail cell. You sound like the judge from the article,

> The top court judge said jail was the safest place for him if he feared for his life, a remark which rights group Amnesty International found "deeply worrying".

[lujim]

Well not to worry. There are plenty of Americans that openly advocate to make offensive speech illegal. THEN it will be time to live in fear of the state because a cartoon could have resulted in some prison time.