Last night I received this lovely message:

“I promise you, Sam Young, if you ever attempt to destroy a family or pass legislature to destroy a family because the parents are teaching true doctrine to their kids and raising them in the fear of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I will personally kill you. I will also personally kill anyone who attempts to destroy my family and will always teach my kids that acting on LGBTQ+ temptations is a sin, and punish it accordingly. I would come out 100% victorious too, you can count on that. However, being LGBTQ+ is not a sin. Thus, consider yourself warned. This warning goes for everyone else too.” —Mike Forella

I take this threat seriously, both regarding me and others who are associated with Protect LDS Children. The perpetrator has cast his threatening net far and wide.

This morning a visit was paid to the Sugar Land Police. I reported the threat, described our cause and reviewed the blog post that evoked the words, “I will personally kill you.” I also turned over the menacing man’s email and IP addresses. Of course, I realize that the name and email could be fake.

The officer had an interesting question for me: “Your cause is just. However, by speaking publicly you are going to get negative push-back. Can you pursue your cause without being out in the open?”

Well….that train has already left the station.

The case will now be sent to the investigating officers. An update should be available in a week or so.

This is the first death threat I’ve received. But, not the first criminal threat. Last February, threats were made against my family, my business and against my person. All were reported to the police. Ultimately, the authorities didn’t have enough information to track down the menace. Hopefully, this time they will.

I don’t believe we should allow threats of violence to be made with impunity. Otherwise, they will proliferate.

Here are the articles that chronicle the previous incidents.

The Church threatens, member follows with mal-intent

Terroristic Threat

The terroristic threats may be coming from my own church

My employees feel the threat