As 14 News reported:
"The family of 31-year-old James Evans says he's very into music and often posts song lyrics and videos on Facebook, but they never imagined those innocent posts would land him in jail."
Seems pretty silly to me. I understand the need for safety and security in our neighbourhoods but this gives a weird vibe, like profiling before an act happens. Is that the same as innocent before guilty? I also realize that no one EVER wants to see something like this taking place before reacting swiftly to it, but we have to draw a line somewhere. This seems like a good place to start. Here is what he wrote on his Facebook page:
"Student bodies lying dead in the halls, a blood splattered treatise of hate. Class dismissed is my hypothesis, gun fire ends in debate."
Getting arrested I could slightly understand (room for miscommunication), but I am still scratching my head around how they are keeping the charges laid against him for terroristic threatening. I have seen and heard far worse things in my time on Facebook so why all of a sudden this? Are local authorities constantly in fear of another Sandy Hook? Virginia Tech? Columbine? Perhaps it might be time to look at other variables (coughguncontrolcough) versus assuming all Facebook users have mental issues? Will I get a visit from big brother if I decided to post controversial lyrics? How about "Cop Killer"?
"I got my black shirt on
I got my black gloves on
I got my ski mask on
This shit's been too long
I got my twelve gauge sawed off
I got my headlights turned off
I'm 'bout to bust some shots off
I'm 'bout to dust some cops off"
Many people have found this to be a little silly and absurd. Evan's own sister Ashelynn explained that he regularly posts lyrics about bands he enjoys. So maybe when someone got tipped off about the lyric post heard round the world they should have done a tad more background research? It might have been helpful to know that this sort of posting happens on a regular basis for James.
"Whenever we found out that he actually got arrested for lyrics, we were all shocked. "We couldn't believe that you could do that or get in trouble for that. I don't personally agree with the band or the music but I agree that you should have the choice to listen to it if you want to." -Ashelynn
"It's nonsense. I feel like my civil rights have been violated. You know first amendment freedom of speech out the window. Even all the guys I was in the cell with they thought it was nonsense themselves. I had several officials tell me it was nonsense that there was no reason why I should have even been here." -Evans
And to put the icing on the cake, even the band members of Exodus got behind Evans and gave their own statement:
“The idea that an individual in this great country of ours could be arrested for simply posting lyrics to a song is something I never believed could happen in a free society. James Evans was simply posting lyrics to a band he likes on Facebook, and he was locked up for it. The song ‘Class Dismissed (A Hate Primer)’ was written as a view through the eyes of a madman and in no way endorses that kind of fucked up behavior. It was the Virginia Tech massacre perpetrated by Seung-Hui Cho that was the subject and inspiration to write the song, one in which we put the brakes on playing it live after the Sandy Hook shooting, as we did not want to seem insensitive.” -Gary Holt
So that being said, I am looking forward to the proceedings to follow. We hope that some logic will come to the judicial system. Either that or we will have a LOT of legal battles ahead of us when we post lyrics of our favourite artists. And just to be a little fair to the metal genre, here's some lyrics from one of my favourite rappers. I'll leave it with you to figure out who (if any).
"I ain't even drug you in the woods yet to paint the forest
A bloodstain is orange after you wash it three or four times in a tub but that's normal ain't it Norman?
Serial killer hiding murder material."
No comments:
Post a Comment