# Limbaugh has been trashing Sheriff Dupnik and now is reportedly playing "I Shot the Sheriff"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaugh-has-been-trashing-sheriff-dupnik-and-now-is-reportedly-playing-i-shot-the-sheriff/567622>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [January 14, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaugh-has-been-trashing-sheriff-dupnik-and-now-is-reportedly-playing-i-shot-the-sheriff/567622 "2011-01-14T17:59:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaugh-has-been-trashing-sheriff-dupnik-and-now-is-reportedly-playing-i-shot-the-sheriff/567622/1 "2011-01-14T17:59:31Z")

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while saying “I shot a sheriff” in the background.

If this is true is what he’s doing free speech? Is it incitement to assassination of a public official?

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaugh-has-been-trashing-sheriff-dupnik-and-now-is-reportedly-playing-i-shot-the-sheriff/567622/2 "2011-01-14T18:10:20Z")

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> [@davidm](#):
>
> If this is true is what he’s doing free speech? Is it incitement to assassination of a public official?

If you are asking if this would be Constitutionally protected, based on past precedent the answer is yes. If I remember right, free speech is not protected if it’s an incitement to “imminent lawless action.” Despite what happened in Arizona last week, there’s no reason for Limbaugh to believe somebody would commit murder based on what you’re describing.

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**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaugh-has-been-trashing-sheriff-dupnik-and-now-is-reportedly-playing-i-shot-the-sheriff/567622/3 "2011-01-14T18:11:11Z")

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It seems that his may have been misreported so, [litella]never mind.[/littela]

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**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaugh-has-been-trashing-sheriff-dupnik-and-now-is-reportedly-playing-i-shot-the-sheriff/567622/4 "2011-01-14T18:13:30Z")

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> [@davidm](#):
>
> Is it incitement to assassination of a public official?

If Rush were an ordinary, anonymous citizen, it would probably invite a “visit” from the authorities, you betcha.

But Rush is Rush – he’s the epitome of comic relief for common sense liberals.

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**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaugh-has-been-trashing-sheriff-dupnik-and-now-is-reportedly-playing-i-shot-the-sheriff/567622/5 "2011-01-14T18:14:48Z")

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See my post #3. Mods, you may want to close this.

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limbaugh-has-been-trashing-sheriff-dupnik-and-now-is-reportedly-playing-i-shot-the-sheriff/567622/6 "2011-01-14T18:17:45Z")

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Closed at the OP’s request.