The First Amendment to the Constitution declares that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech." But not all speech is protected by the Constitution. Exceptions exist for speech that is obscene, that presents a clear and present danger, for "fighting words," or for speech intended to incite "imminent lawless action."

Another kind of speech that is not protected is a "true threat" — something that a reasonable listener would understand as an actual threat of violence.

In Watts v. U.S (1969), the Supreme Court ruled that a man protesting the draft hadn't issued a true threat when he said that he would shoot President Lyndon Johnson as soon as he was issued a rifle. According to the high court, the context of the man's speech made it clear that he wouldn't actually shoot the president and was simply engaging in political hyperbole.

Chakravartin wrote:
[quote=decay]
threatening the President's life, even in jest, even in effigy, isn't a good idea.

decay wrote:
[quote=Chakravartin]
[quote=decay]
threatening the President's life, even in jest, even in effigy, isn't a good idea.