We all know we're involved in a struggle for the soul of our nation, and most Christians know it involves sometimes intense spiritual warfare. But I want to share with you a satisfying outcome to a very troubling incident that began last year.
On May 22, 2019, a young man named Chase Davis threatened to kill everyone at AFA. He did this by posting a pair of messages on AFA's Facebook page. This is what Davis wrote:
“i am coming to tupelo unexpected with a group of people and we are going to kill every single person who runs your group"
"you are the most disgusting people in america. i have put together a group to have you pieces of [expletive] obliterated into dust. yes, i literally mean killing all of you. you people are nothing but disgusting, warn out, and old excuses of human life."
AFA reported the threats to Facebook but was told that the threat was not a policy violation. Can you believe it? How is it possible that threatening to murder every employee at our ministry does not violate Facebook policy? AFA appealed the decision to no avail.
We also immediately reported the criminal threats to the Offices of the United States Attorneys, which resulted in an investigation by the FBI and a federal grand jury indictment in the Northern District of Mississippi in the summer of 2019.
On July 20, 2020, Judge Sheri Polster Chappell, United States judge for the Middle District of Florida, sentenced Davis on the federal criminal conviction he received for the murderous threats he directed toward AFA. Chappell sentenced Davis to serve six months in prison followed by an additional three years of federal probation, during which he will be strictly monitored and supervised by federal authorities. In addition, he was ordered to pay $1,440 in restitution for costs AFA incurred to protect its employees after the threat. As a part of the sentence, Davis must also participate in drug and mental health treatment and perform 400 hours of community service in lieu of a fine.
In wanting Chase Davis prosecuted, we were not seeking vengeance but justice. Our nation is coming apart at the seams because some people believe that violence is the solution to political and moral disagreement. It is not.
AFA leadership also wants to ensure that we did everything possible to provide for the safety of the ministry's employees. We hope the sentence will serve as a deterrent to anyone in the future who would threaten harm to AFA or any other organization.
I want to let you know that AFA will never be intimidated into silence. We will continue to boldly proclaim the gospel and the truth that a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only answer to the sin, anger, pain, and suffering that afflicts our nation.
Thank you for standing with us and praying for your AFA. Together we will remain faithful, by God’s grace, to our calling.
Sincerely,
Tim Wildmon, President
American Family Association