Accountability for hate speech

This is long overdue. Hate jockey Hal Turner arrested for internet threats against federal judges. "A summary of Turner’s dangerous tirade against the judges":

Internet postings on June 2 and 3 proclaimed “outrage” over the June 2, 2009, handgun decision by Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook and Judges Richard Posner and William Bauer, of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, further stating, among other things: “Let me be the first to say this plainly: These Judges deserve to be killed.” The postings included photographs, phone numbers, work address and room numbers of these judges, along with a photo of the building in which they work and a map of its location.

More at the link. I'm all for free speech, even abhorent speech, but Turner crossed the line into criminal incitement as far as I can see. It's about time they started holding these guys responsible, particularly in light of the spate of nutcase murders that gestated in the petri dish of their vile rantings.

[More posts daily at The Detroit News]