Steve Mahfouz

http://www.roguegovernment.com/news.php?id=4682


The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed HR 1955 titled the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. This bill is one of the most blatant attacks against the Constitution yet and actually defines thought crimes as homegrown terrorism. If passed into law, it will also establish a commission and a Center of Excellence to study and defeat so called thought criminals. Unlike previous anti-terror legislation, this bill specifically targets the civilian population of the United States and uses vague language to define homegrown terrorism.

Amazingly, 404 of our elected representatives from both the Democrat and Republican parties voted in favor of this bill. There is little doubt that this bill is specifically targeting the growing patriot community that is demanding the restoration of the Constitution.

First let’s take a look at the definitions of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism as defined in Section 899A of the bill.
The definition of violent radicalization uses vague language to define this term of promoting any belief system that the government considers to be an extremist agenda. Since the bill doesn’t specifically define what an extremist belief system is, it is entirely up to the interpretation of the government.

Considering how much the government has done to destroy the Constitution they could even define Ron Paul supporters as promoting an extremist belief system. Literally, the government according to this definition can define whatever they want as an extremist belief system. Essentially they have defined violent radicalization as thought crime. The definition as defined in the bill is shown below.
`(2) VIOLENT RADICALIZATION- The term `violent radicalization' means the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.

The definition of homegrown terrorism uses equally vague language to further define thought crime. The bill includes the planned use of force or violence as homegrown terrorism which could be interpreted as thinking about using force or violence. Not only that but the definition is so vaguely defined, that petty crimes could even fall into the category of homegrown terrorism. The definition as defined in the bill is shown below.
`(3) HOMEGROWN TERRORISM- The term `homegrown terrorism' means the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.
Section 899B of the bill goes over the findings of Congress as it pertains to homegrown terrorism. Particularly alarming is that the bill mentions the Internet as a main source for terrorist propaganda. The bill even mentions streams in obvious reference to many of the patriot and pro-constitution Internet radio networks that have been formed. It also mentions that homegrown terrorists span all ages and races indicating that the Congress is stating that everyone is a potential terrorist.

Even worse is that Congress states in their findings that they should look at draconian police states like Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom as models to defeat homegrown terrorists. Literally, these findings of Congress fall right in line with the growing patriot community.

The biggest joke of all is that this section also says that any measure to prevent violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism should not violate the constitutional rights of citizens. However, the definition of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism as they are defined in section 899A are themselves unconstitutional. The Constitution does not allow the government to arrest people for thought crimes, so any promises not to violate the constitutional rights of citizens are already broken by their own definitions.
`SEC. 899B. FINDINGS.
`The Congress finds the following:
`(1) The development and implementation of methods and processes that can be utilized to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States is critical to combating domestic terrorism.
`(2) The promotion of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence exists in the United States and poses a threat to homeland security.
`(3) The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens.
`(4) While the United States must continue its vigilant efforts to combat international terrorism, it must also strengthen efforts to combat the threat posed by homegrown terrorists based and operating within the United States.
`(5) Understanding the motivational factors that lead to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence is a vital step toward eradicating these threats in the United States.
`(6) The potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated terrorists domestically cannot be easily prevented through traditional Federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts, and requires the incorporation of State and local solutions.
`(7) Individuals prone to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence span all races, ethnicities, and religious beliefs, and individuals should not be targeted based solely on race, ethnicity, or religion.
`(8) Any measure taken to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism in the United States should not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights and civil liberties of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents.
`(9) Certain governments, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have significant experience with homegrown terrorism and the United States can benefit from lessons learned by those nations.

Section 899C calls for a commission on the prevention of violent radicalization and ideologically based violence. The commission will consist of ten members appointed by various individuals that hold different positions in government. Essentially, this is a commission that will examine and report on how they are going to deal with violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism. So basically, the commission is being formed specifically on how to deal with thought criminals in the United States. The bill requires that the commission submit their final report 18 months following the commission’s first meeting as well as submit interim reports every 6 months leading up to the final report. Below is the bill’s defined purpose of the commission. Amazingly they even define one of the purposes of the commission to determine the causes of lone wolf violent radicalization.
(b) Purpose- The purposes of the Commission are the following:
`(1) Examine and report upon the facts and causes of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States, including United States connections to non-United States persons and networks, violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in prison, individual or `lone wolf' violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence, and other faces of the phenomena of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence that the Commission considers important.
`(2) Build upon and bring together the work of other entities and avoid unnecessary duplication, by reviewing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of--
`(A) the Center of Excellence established or designated under section 899D, and other academic work, as appropriate;
`(B) Federal, State, local, or tribal studies of, reviews of, and experiences with violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence; and
`(C) foreign government studies of, reviews of, and experiences with violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence.


*edited to fit space, more at link*

__________________
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ecstasy City/128/128/22
Ecstasy City: high quality commercial district

Fade Languish

Since when is Australia a draconian police state? I would have thought I'd have noticed that.

Joshua Nightshade

You would've if you weren't being constantly state-policed, Languish.

Charlemagne Allen

I thought it was an post-apocalyptic wasteland where thugs and heroic cops in Ford Falcon intercepters drove around the outback hunting for gas.

Mukatsuku

I would have noticed the UK was too, when I lived there yet, somehow I did not.
Obviously Canada is though, nobody can argue with that (never been there, but I doubt it is)

__________________
--

My Sims Exchange - http://www.thesims3.com/mypage/Mukatsuku

My Photography/Graphics Design - http://www.zedpeejay.com

Meet-me wiki - http://meetme-english.wetpaint.com

Mukatsuku

That was a while back, now Australia is a land of hobbits and big tree things that walk.

Fade Languish

That's New Zealand

Cristiano

They also have Adam Zaius, who may still be a Hobbit, I'm not sure. He has the eyebrows.

__________________
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement

* slu stuff *

Joshua Nightshade

You be nice to him!

Clancy Sullivan

Face it, he's abandonned you. Spend your energy cruising for new game.

Mukatsuku

same place

ok, Australia is the place with the skiing kangaroos that drink Fosters where everybody wrestles crocodiles, and use these skills to defeat criminals in New York.

And of course, every child actor becomes a singer

Tyche Shepherd

Of course Australian is a draconian police state ... what can you expect when a draconian police state like the UK sent all its criminals there

Mukatsuku

Don't forget Canada - they must have helped!

Tyche Shepherd

On a more serious note though , I can't speak for Canada or Australia but the US is very sensible in looking at the UK and its responses to terrorism over the past 100 years or so as some of the worst Civil Liberty abuses by the UK Government have arisen in response to terrorism threats

From the first ever concentration camps in South Africa during the Boer war , to Internment in Ireland then later in Northern Ireland - all abuses of civil liberties in the name of combatting terrorism.

However, as bad as some of these responses have been I'd hardly call current legislation draconian , we don't yet have the death penalty for terrorist (or other crimes) . I find that a much more servere punishment than even the current Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Mukatsuku

I agree, the UK has dealt with terrorism for a long time and I believe now the UK has a very good balance between security and freedom and is far from draconian.

I think in some ways the IRA was not handled as strongly as it could have been, because the IRA declared war but of course the police combatting them had to act within the law (unlike on the battlefield). While bad things happened, they are nothing compared to the innocent lives the IRA took away, while other countries failed to realise the IRA were terrorists.

The UK is a very free country, but also very good with security at the places where it is necessary (airports, for example).

Things like the Patriot Act are closer to a draconian police state and certainly has not happened in the UK

Sooz Pascale

Maybe I'm missing something here..its still morning and I haven't hadenough coffee. this looks to me like an effort to STUDY ways of combating violent homegrown terrorism. What is wrong with that?

I don't see any specific acts being criminalized, nor to I see penalties being discussed for any criminal acts. Further it clearly states that the Constitutional rights of people shall be preserved.

Others have commented on the "draconian police states" of UK, Australia and Canada. Canada? A droconian police state??? Oh puleeeez!!

I just don't see any huge cause for alarm here.

Sooz

__________________
Nothing sickens me more than the closed door of a library - Barbara Tuchman

Rev Eponym

Yeah, when the source calls Canada a 'draconian police state', you have to question the validity of the rest of the article. That's not to say that there's not cause for concern here, but a House Bill is far from being law -- it has to clear the Senate, then the President, and is even after that up for review by the Supreme Court.

Sooz Pascale

Exactly, although it will have to wend its way through the lower courts before the Supremes hear it. Also, the senate is considerably more liberal then the House, so if this bill REALLY is that droconian, it will simply NOT pass the senate. Keep in mind, Hilary Clinton, Barrack Obama, Ted Kennedy, Herry Reid, Dick Durbin, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer and others wield a LOT of power in the Senate. If they don't like it it is DIFFICULT to get it passed.


Sooz

Parker McTeague

while this type of thing does scare me, thinking of what my country could become, i did get strong sense it was an alarmist article. i didn't see much need for immediate concern.

but still...just the idea that lawmakers could draft something that even suggests thought crime is disturbing.

__________________

also you can read my blog!

prinţesă nină

wtf? australia is not a 'police state'. fancy a yank making a claim like that
not too sure what theyre on about with the idea that somehow aussies are so experienced with homegrown terrorism. maybe ned kelly? get real. timothy mcveigh was an american hey.

Rose Karuna

If the FBI is not already aware of what groups in the US are capable of violence then we are in big trouble.

I think this bill is just another attempt to crack the constitution wider so that they can spy on average every day citizens who are opposed to their ideology and may have influence and financing, such as; Quakers or Unitarians, War Protesters or the ACLU.

__________________
I like Florida. Everything is in the 80's. The temperatures, the ages and the IQ's. ~ George Carlin

Ramonna Villota

Sooz look what those wonders you labeled did in the 90's (Gun control, Wire Taps, TX Bar B Que's ) etc...

Sooz Pascale

I didn't say they were SMART, I said they were liberal.

And wooo hooo!! I just got my medusa head!!
Sooz

Ramonna Villota

Okay okay
You are right