# Assassinating the President of the United States **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 1, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197 "2017-12-01T00:22:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/1 "2017-12-01T00:22:22Z")
What are the rules for discussions involving the assassination of the President? (And by extension, any sufficiently powerful politician.) I’m sure that “Go kill Trump right now” is out. How about “Impeachment exists as our more civilized alternative to assassination. But if the Congress refuses to impeach a president who should be impeached, does assassination become the just and moral choice?” Or “At what point does the assassination of the president become the just and moral choice?” Or “Does the president’s life outweigh the lives of those who have to live under his harmful policies?” Or even “Is violence ever the best answer?” (I’m fairly certain that this one’s OK.) I’d like a frank and honest discussion about all five of those points, but I’m not sure which side of the rules such a thread would fall. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/2 "2017-12-01T00:28:11Z")
You could start with invoking the second amendment while referencing the non legal Declaration Of Independence. Though it may go better for you if you invoke demonic possession. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/3 "2017-12-01T00:29:18Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > You could start with invoking the second amendment while referencing the non legal Declaration Of Independence. Though it may go better for you if you invoke demonic possession. Go away. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/4 "2017-12-01T00:34:34Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Go away. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/5 "2017-12-01T00:40:10Z")
Two sections from the [registration agreement](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=650726) are on point: > [@](#): > > You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use the SDMB to post any material that you know or should know is false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, threatening, invasive of a person’s privacy, or in violation of U.S. law. **You agree not to post material that in our opinion encourages activity that is illegal in the U.S.** We reserve the right to revoke the posting privileges of persons misrepresenting themselves on the SDMB. > [@](#): > > You are free to express your views in a forceful manner provided you remain civil. Hate speech, insults, and purposely inflammatory remarks (i.e., trolling) will not be tolerated.\*\* Do not post threats or state or imply that any individual or group is deserving of harm\*\*. We recognize that this rule cannot be strictly applied in discussions of war, capital punishment and the like but urge users to express themselves in moderate terms nonetheless. If we tell you to refrain from behavior that we regard as uncivil, or that in our view detracts from productive discussion, do so or face revocation of your posting privileges. Conspiring to assassinate the president is a crime and therefore would not be allowed. Hypotheticals are probably on stronger footing, but it’s a sensitive topic and would be context dependent. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/6 "2017-12-01T00:48:02Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Two sections from the [registration agreement](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=650726) are on point: > Conspiring to assassinate the president is a crime and therefore would not be allowed. Hypotheticals are probably on stronger footing, but it’s a sensitive topic and would be context dependent. Fair enough, Bone, and thanks. I think it’s best if I refrain, then. Even if I started it on purely hypothetical grounds, somebody’d say something that gets them into trouble, and I’d feel partly culpable. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/7 "2017-12-01T00:51:21Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Fair enough, Bone, and thanks. I think it’s best if I refrain, then. Even if I started it on purely hypothetical grounds, somebody’d say something that gets them into trouble, and I’d feel partly culpable. > > Thanks again. Feel free to start a thread as you see fit given the constraints above and the moderators will provide guidance as necessary. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/8 "2017-12-01T01:01:43Z")
This reminds me of a joke that circulated in the Turtle Bay area of Manhattan shortly after the terrorist attacks on the world trade center (9/11). Turtle Bay, coincidentally, is the home of the Trump World Tower. It was not popular with the Turtle Bay Association; it blotted out the sky and it’s a buttugly building that looks like one of those [magnetic grey lucite paperclip holders](https://thedomesticdiva.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/magneticpaperclip.jpg) writ large. After 9/11 (so says the joke), the Turtle Bay Association issued a release to the attention of Al Qaeda: We, the Turtle Bay Association, condemn your deplorably hostile actions vehemently. We New Yorkers will stand together and no cowardly act of terrorism will bring us down! Using passenger planes to bring down residential towers and destroy thousands of innocent lives is an act of utter moral depravity and the world will judge you accordingly! If you were ever to engage in any such act again, that should add to your moral deficit and bring upon you the retribution that you so richly deserve, for you are an abomination in the eyes of God! We would, however, like to direct your attention to a tall building just off 1st Avenue close to the United Nations Building (looming over it and overshadowing it, tallest structure in the area), which is locally regarded as a symbol of western capitalist enterprise and financial hegemony, and we would tell you that it would be a grave and monstrous sin, never to be forgiven by any citizen of the United States of America or of its government if you were to target it. Indeed, we would hate you forever if you did that, your name would be cursed by American tongues forevermore if that were to transpire. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/9 "2017-12-01T01:04:10Z")
My advice, and I am not your lawyer, is to tread very, very carefully: > **[18 U.S. Code § 871 - Threats against President and successors to the Presidency](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/871)** > **[Threatening the president of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threatening_the_President_of_the_United_States)** > > Threatening the president of the United States is a federal felony under United States Code Title 18, Section 871. It consists of knowingly and willfully mailing or otherwise making "any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict great bodily harm upon the president of the United States". The law also includes presidential candidates, vice presidents, and former presidents. The Secret Service investigates suspected violations of this law and monitors those who have a history Because the... ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/10 "2017-12-01T01:06:09Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > My advice, and I am not your lawyer, is to tread very, very carefully: > > [https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/871](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/871) > [Threatening the president of the United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threatening_the_President_of_the_United_States) Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/11 "2017-12-01T01:17:15Z")
I think that a thread like “At what point does the assassination of the president become the just and moral choice?” is impossible, without someone at some point advocating the assassination of the President, even if that someone isn’t the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/12 "2017-12-01T01:38:27Z")
**GreysonCarlisle** –I’m just pointing out that John Wilkes Booth was expecting to be viewed as a hero, afterwards. He wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/13 "2017-12-01T01:41:50Z")
Anyway, it’s done. [Assassinating the President of the United States, the Debate](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20635352#post20635352). I’d appreciate any mods (or anybody else) who would like to offer further guidance. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/14 "2017-12-01T01:51:00Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Anyway, it’s done. [Assassinating the President of the United States, the Debate](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20635352#post20635352). > > I’d appreciate any mods (or anybody else) who would like to offer further guidance. It would be best if you do not choose to post foolish things. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/15 "2017-12-01T01:54:00Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > It would be best if you do not choose to post foolish things. Take it up with the mods. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/16 "2017-12-01T02:10:54Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Take it up with the mods. My oh my, aren’t you the special one. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/17 "2017-12-01T03:41:02Z")
Yipes! That was rude. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/18 "2017-12-01T04:08:22Z")
Everyone, we expect conversations in this forum to remain civil. Do not talk to other posters this way. > [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Go away. > [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Take it up with the mods. > [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > It would be best if you do not choose to post foolish things. > [@buddha\_david](#): > > My oh my, aren’t you the special one. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/19 "2017-12-01T04:49:09Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > **GreysonCarlisle** –I’m just pointing out that John Wilkes Booth was expecting to be viewed as a hero, afterwards. > He wasn’t. Yeah, well, Trump ain’t no Lincoln. He’s more toward the Warren Harding end of the scale, and I don’t think the country was too put out when _he_ dropped dead. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states/803197/20 "2017-12-01T04:58:24Z")
Since the question in the OP has been answered, and this has now become a magnet for personal sniping and political potshots, let’s close this.