Here’s a lesson at a fraught time — and at any time.

Don’t post a direct threat against someone and assume nothing will be done about it.

Better yet, don’t post a direct threat, period.

An Ohio man who wrote on Facebook that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) “should be shot” was arrested this past Thursday on weapons charges, federal officials said and Fox News reported.

Timothy James Ireland Jr, 41, of Toledo, has been charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of being a fugitive in possession of a firearm and one count of making interstate threats, the Justice Department said in a statement on Friday.

On July 23, someone sent the Capitol Police in Washington, D.C., a screenshot of a Facebook post that was linked to Ireland, authorities say.

It contained a news item about the Democratic “squad” member, plus a personally written caption that also read: “Can’t fire me, my employer would load the gun for me.”

“There is absolutely no place in the marketplace of ideas for threats of violence against any person, especially those who are elected to represent the American people,” U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman said in a statement. “Disagreement on political issues cannot lead to acts of violence, and if it does, we will seek federal prison time.”

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“The mission of the United States Capitol Police is to protect the Congress, the U.S. Capitol, and all who work and visit here,” said U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven A. Sund in the same statement. “I want to thank our special agents for their excellent work in investigating this case as well as our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance.”

“Disagreement on political issues cannot lead to acts of violence, and if it does, we will seek federal prison time.”

Capitol Police and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched Ireland’s home this past Thursday, Fox News also reported.

They found three rounds of .32-caliber ammunition and four rounds of .45-caliber ammunition.

A background check revealed Ireland had various outstanding warrants, including felony failure to appear in Sarasota County, Florida, and a misdemeanor failure to appear related to a marijuana possession charge in Cook County, Georgia.

The progressive Democrat from New York has indicated she’s been the target of numerous threats since she took office.

She won her congressional seat in the fall 2018 midterms.