Freedom of speech isn't tolerated by some

[WhatNextBanana]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2025/09/10/charlie-kirks-shooting-terrible-moment-american-democracy/

Political violence on the rise.

People are getting angry when people have Political views they don't agree with. Freedom of speech must be allowed not shutdown.

Tragic news of a young family man shot by someone today. Please remember he was a human with a family. Violence is never ok.

But Kirk, despite inviting respectful conversations, never intended to change his mind. At heart, there was no reasoning, except from him. His opinions were set in stone and he used his huge platform to spread those opinions. He was never open minded enough to admit he may have been wrong, ever.

Do you hold the same opinion of those cheering the assassination of Mark and Melissa Hortmann? I'm sure you do, as I, although I disagree with pretty much everything Charlie Kirk stood for, am horrified by the manner of his death.

Charlie Kirk believed in free speech so whether you agree with what had been said about what has happened or not people have every right to say it. Isn’t this what Charlie wanted or is it more of a case of only a section of society can say what they want but not others?

@Mustbethat @DipsyDee You/ They can say whatever you/they want. He wouldn't care a dot what you/ they think and free speech is free speech. BUT if you're justifying his death or qualifying it with 'but he said...' you cannot also say you are liberal, tolerant, or progressive. Words are words. We should not be hurt or killed for them. No matter left or right.

Are you from the UK because we dont have freedom of speech. That's an American thing

Where has anyone justified his death? The vast majority of people on this thread have simply said that nobody is under any moral obligation to mourn him. We can and do feel that he did not deserve to die, that his murder was wrong and that violence is always wrong. However, voices on the right seem to want to silence anyone who says CK wasn't a saint. Why aren't we allowed freedom of speech? How is it illiberal of us to not canonise this man?

💯. People do like to blather on about the importance of free speech but in reality all this really means is that only those with the same opinion can talk freely whilst those who disagree should be quiet.

Where did I say anything about justifying his death? People do like to make things up

Just been reading up on the Boelter case which is ongoing so the press can't say much. The case is different in that the wife seems to have been on the ball taking off with the children, passports and ten thousand dollars. Boelter had an extensive hit list of victims. Was much older a respected citizen.

I don't know if Minnesota has the death penalty though.

nobody has justified his death or said he should be killed for his words.

but why aren’t his supporters respecting his words? Free speech, reasoned debate etc?

If he was such a hero and everything he said was right, why aren’t they praying for these people and explaining why they are wrong to think what they do? why is it speak out against CK and we will hunt you down and ruin you life.

I am not justifying is death. I am saying you cannot justify his followers actions if they believe in his words.

The uk does have free speech. Protected by the Human rights act.

it’s not “an American thing”. It is in their constitution but they do not exclusively have free speech and no one else does.

i would argue that currently America does not have free speech in practice. As it seems anyone can censor you for you speech by contacting your employer and getting you fired.

The death toll in Gaza exceeds 64,000.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/23/un-yemen-recovery-possible-in-one-generation-if-war-stops-now

Compare that to the death toll in Yemen.

People in the US are losing their jobs over SM comments about Kirk, and the US have said they’ll start looking at visitors who want to come to the USA too- not allow visas for anyone making comments about Kirk on SM that the authorities don’t like.
So much for freedom of speech…

Yeah, when you live in a fascist country you really should keep it anonymous online.

This is commonly misunderstood, even in the US. The constitution protects US citizens from government restrictions on speech. Other organizations, like employers or social media platforms can and do have restrictions on speech that you opt into by your employment or participation on the platform.

And the government can impose some restrictions on speech - incitement to violence, national security, etc.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech_in_the_United_States

Non citizens are not protected by the first amendment and the US has no obligation to issues visas to people who espouse violent or hateful views.

Lucy Connolly would agree, I'm sure.

Have you read the constitution?

everyone is protected by the first amendment.

it is their right of course to refuse entry. But saying CK was not a nice person does not count as “violent or hateful views”.

💯 this

Just seen this

Every employer has a duty in law to ensure a safe work environment for every employee.

Working alongside a colleague who has taken the time to publicly state that people deserve to die for voicing certain opinions is not a safe working environment.

Therefore any employer who is made aware of the risks posed by such an individual in their employ would need to take remedial action to ensure the workplace remains safe for all employees.

These individuals have effectively made themselves unemployable. The responsibility is entirely theirs.

If you don’t think checking tourists SM for views that don’t match the current administrations
isn’t sinister then you don’t. The rest of the world studies actual history and knows what this kind of behaviour is often a precursor to…
My global US Headquartered company has advised non- US staff going to the USA to leave their personal phones at homes and only to take their work phones, work tablets and work laptops.

Bullshit. But also WTF??? Define celebrate? I haven’t seen any celebrations, but aI have read a lot of people saying they thought he was dangerous, or not a good person, or racist or that he won’t be missed by many.
I wonder if just having those views is enough to get people hounded, fired, chased down.
its very VERY creepy.

It isn’t just people saying he deserved to die. It’s anyone saying negative things, even as simple as they won’t mourn him.

many people are saying that his murder was very very wrong, but can still agree his opinions were wrong and they didn’t like him as a person. Even saying he won’t be missed. That is still not condoning his murder. That is not a reason to lose your job.

I assume there's a similar list of those celebrating the death of Melissa and Mark Hortman? No? Odd.

Ed sp