2 of my sons teen friend threatened to **** my son on my facebook… what are the laws regarding this?
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2 of my sons teen friend threatened to **** my son on my facebook… what are the laws regarding this?
I have a facebook… these 2 teen boys are mutual friends on my FB… one said he wanted to “unleash some anger… poss with his gun” other teen said “who do we need to kill” first teen said “taylor” my son… this went on a bit more… what are the laws regarding a teen threatening to **** another teen? we live in Texas
Asked on June 10, 2009 under Criminal Law, Texas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 15 years ago | Contributor
If you think there's the slightest credibility to the threat--any at all--call your town's police and explain the situation to them. It is illegal to threaten another person with bodily injury or death, whether that threat is made in person or on the web. It is also a threat, in our post-Columbine, etc. world, that police take seriously. At a minimum, the police would speak with the teens and their parents; they'll also be put on notice, and therefore be more ready to respond, in case there's any escalation or other evidence of a threat.
You should also contact FaceBook--threatening other people is against the FaceBook terms of service, and FB might pull the offending teens' accounts.
Obviously, your son's safety comes first, but note that if there are costs or damages to you, your son, or your family (for example, if you son is somehow made to feel unsafe at school and needs to transfer to a private school, or needs some psychological counseling), the teens' and their families are liable, though you'd need to bring a legal action (lawsuit) against them to recover. Not that you want it to escalate to that, but just so you're aware.
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