THE ASSOCIATED PRESS reports that former shock jock and current blogger Harold ‘’Hal'’ Turner, who recently urged readers to ‘’take up arms'’ against Connecticut lawmakers and who suggested government officials should ‘’obey the Constitution or die'’ has surrendered on a charge of inciting violence.

Turner was angry over legislation that would have given lay members of Roman Catholic churches in Connecticut more control over parish finances. So, on June 2, he wrote on his blog that Catholics should ‘’take up arms and put down this tyranny by force.'’

‘’It is our intent to forment direct action against these individuals personally,'’ Turner wrote. ‘’These beastly government officials should be made an example of as a warning to others in government: Obey the Constitution or die.'’ And, speaking of police or prosecutors who may try to stop him, Turner wrote, ‘’I suspect we have enough bullets to put them down too.'’

Last week, however, he explained the posts as ‘’crude political hyperbole uttered in a context which did not lend itself to imminent lawlessness.'’ And upon his surrender to authorities, Turner’s attorneys issued a statement saying that his First Amendment rights need to be protected, even if people disagree with his views.