[Cerek the Barbaric]

This is part of the fallout from the Columbine High tragedy (as mentioned in the article). The two teens that committed that atrocity planned the event for over a year, and discussed their plans extensively via e-mail and Instant Messages. When the police found searched their homes and computers, they found large files listing exact details of the plannned killing. Because of this, there was a large outcry saying "WHY? WHY didn't the parents or authorities investigate these plans BEFORE the slaughter occurred. IF ONLY they had taken action ahead of time, those 12 students and teacher might still be alive today."

The result of such a tremendous public outcry is to introduce a broad, sweeping law that allows authorities to do just that...investigate and take action on this type of activity before the final event occurs.

I agree that all factors have to be looked at and it sounds obvious that this student didn't fit the "profile" of the Columbine shooters. But the student also has an obligation to be aware of the possible consequences of this type of story. Our Freedom of Speech is NOT absolute. You can't yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater, you can't go to an appearance by the President and joke about having a gun in your pocket, and it isn't smart to write a story about blowing up your high school and killing fellow students just for kicks.

Perhaps the student could have gone to his English teacher and told him/her about his story idea and asked if he could get extra-credit for writing it. That way, everybody knows up front he is just doing it as a class assignment or for a better grade. Instead, he writes a story about a school being taken over and blown up by him and some colleagues. Even his own mother supported the suspension from school for his actions....but I also agree with her that a felony conviction is too serious of an overreaction all the way around.