A REMINDER ABOUT FREE SPEECH, SOCIAL MEDIA, & THREATS
We recognize that issues affecting our community can generate strong opinions, passionate debate, and sometimes heated conversations. That is part of living in a community where people care deeply about what happens around them.
We also want to be very clear about something important: We have the right to disagree with each other and our elected officials. We have the right to criticize and question government decisions. We have the right to speak passionately and make our voices heard.
Those rights, however, do not mean that every form of speech is without legal consequence.
Under Texas Penal Code §22.07 — Terroristic Threat, threatening to commit an offense involving violence can constitute a criminal offense when accompanied by certain legally defined intent. Among other circumstances, the statute addresses threats intended to place someone in fear of serious bodily injury or to influence the conduct or activities of a governmental entity.
Social media does not exist outside the law. A comment made online can have the same real-world consequences as words communicated in person.
The standard is the same regardless of the issue being debated or who is involved. People are free to strongly disagree with government officials and decisions. Threats of violence, however, are a different matter and will be taken seriously by law enforcement.
We encourage everyone to participate in the public process. Attend meetings, contact your elected officials, advocate, debate, respectfully disagree, and be passionate. That is what makes us an amazing community working together to create an amazing place to live, work, and visit.
Recently, during an online discussion regarding a controversial development project, an individual made statements threatening violence against Westlake Town Council members in connection with that discussion.
The Keller Police Department was made aware of these statements, took the allegations seriously, identified the individual involved, and contacted that individual in-person. This particular incident involved threats specific to elected officials, which elevated the allegations to the level of a felony crime. This incident is an ongoing criminal matter.
Our community can disagree, even strongly, while still treating one another with civility and keeping the conversation safe. But threats of violence will never be tolerated and will always be taken seriously by law enforcement.
For additional information regarding Texas Penal Code §22.07:
