CONSPIRACIST ALEX JONES AND THE LIMITS OF FREE SPEECH

Ten years ago, our country was aghast as we learned of the murders of 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Many of us thought the slaughter would lead to passage of commonsense gun regulation — at the very least, outlawing the Ar-15-style rifle that was used to take those innocent lives.

But none of us imagined someone would repeatedly claim the tragedy was a hoax, staged by actors as part of a government plot to confiscate Americans’ firearms. Conspiracy theorist and media personality Alex Jones seized the opportunity.

Finally, Jones will pay a price for his deception. A total of 10 families eventually sued him. In the first of three cases to be heard, a jury recently ordered Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages and $4.1 million in compensatory damages to the parents of one of the victims, 6-year-old Jesse Lewis.

The amount seems paltry in comparison to the anguish caused by Jones and others at Infowars, which claims to be the “#1 independent news service in the world, battling globalism and promoting a pro-human future.” Infowars is owned by Jones.

Believers in Jones’ claims took matters into their own hands, accosting the Sandy Hook families (even at events to honor their slain loved ones), abusing them online, and threatening their lives.

The parents of Noah Pozner, the youngest Sandy Hook victim, have moved nearly 10 times since the shooting and live in hiding. His mother said that conspiracists publish their new address “with the speed of light.” She can’t even visit Noah’s grave.

I can’t help but wonder what would motivate Alex Jones to regularly broadcast what he knew to be a lie, despite the damage it caused. It’s an easy but disturbing answer: money.

As Washington Post editorial writer Molly Roberts explained, “None of the events leading to the verdict should have come as a surprise.

Jones made a career out of deception — hawking hoaxes and phony cures to the credulous for decades. Pick a conspiracy theory, and he probably helped propagate it.”

Jones has cast himself as the victim, saying that the attention paid to Sandy Hook has harmed his business. While Infowars’ parent company recently filed for bankruptcy, Jones brings in as much as $800,000 in a single day, hawking nutritional supplements, survivalist gear and other merchandise.

Jones has sought cover from the First Amendment to defend his actions. In his deposition, Jones stated, “If questioning public events and free speech is banned because it might hurt somebody’s feelings, we are not in America anymore.” He arrived at the courthouse with a piece of duct tape over his mouth that said “Save the 1st.”

Jones is right on one count: Most things we say — no matter how offensive, hurtful or untrue — are going to be protected under the First Amendment, which guards our speech from government interference and reprisal.

But in our polarized society, the consequences of free speech are much greater. And social media is an accelerant, spreading the harm.

Still, Jones’ pronouncements were defamatory and therefore, unprotected. He knew it, never even mounting a defense against the defamation charges brought by the 10 Sandy Hook families. Nor did he comply with orders to hand over critical evidence, such as emails (although his attorney accidentally sent Jones’ cellphone records to the opposing counsel).

So, for Jones, the unsettled matter is how much the families should be paid — a question that’s now been answered for the Lewis family.

If only this had been a matter of hurt feelings. Jones lied in the most malicious manner.

Roberts tells the story of one broadcast, when Jones alleged that a father — who spoke of holding his son with a bullet in his head — had never really held him at all. In the courtroom, Jones finally conceded that the tragedy was “100 percent real,” words that were likely devoid of any empathy for the people he damaged so deeply.

Jones’ intent was to put on a show for his audience and profit from it. His words fueled extremist actions. And for that, Jones must be held accountable.

A friend of mine put it this way: Jones wanted to take the ride, but not pay the freight.

We can only hope that for Alex Jones, the ride is over.