Jeremy David Hanson, 34, of Rossmoor, California, United States does not agree with Merriam-Webster‘s definitions of the words female, girl and woman. Founded in 1831, the company publishes reference books and is known for its dictionaries.

Merriam-Webster is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. It has officers in other parts of the country including New York City, New York.

.

On October 2, 2021, Hanson allegedly used the handle @anonYmous to post a comment on Merriam-Webster’s definition of female. He allegedly wrote, “It is absolutely sickening that Merriam-Webster now tells blatant lies and promotes anti-science propaganda. There is no such thing as ‘gender identity.’ The imbecile who wrote this entry should be hunted down and shot.”

Via Merriam-Webster’s Contact Us page, Hanson allegedly threatened to shoot up and bomb the company’s headquarters. He allegedly wrote, “It is sickening that you have caved to the cultural Marxist, anti-science tranny agenda and altered the definition of ‘female’ as part of the Left’s efforts to corrupt and degrade the English language and deny reality.”

“You evil Marxists should all be killed,” Hanson allegedly wrote. “It would be poetic justice to have someone storm your offices and shoot up the place, leaving none of you commies alive.”

On October 8, 2021, Hanson allegedly posted another threatening comment on the Merriam-Webster’s website. He allegedly a left threatening message again via the company’s Contact Us page that threatened to bomb the company’s offices “for lying and creating fake…”

For around five days, Merriam-Webster closed its offices in Springfield and New York City as a result of the threats sent by Hanson. He also allegedly sent threatening messages to other targets including a New York City rabbi, the University of North Texas president, two Loyola Marymount University professors, the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Hasbro, Inc., IGN Entertainment and Land O’ Lakes.

On April 20, 2022, Hanson was arrested and charged with one count of interstate communication of threats to commit violence in federal court in Springfield in connection with making threats against Merriam-Webster. He may face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

After an initial appearance in federal court in California, Hanson was released on conditions. On April 29, 2022, he will appear in federal court in Springfield.