HR 1955 This one requires some Ron Paul people power

[mweldon]

HR 1955 - Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=28140

Read it, get caught up, and write your Senator now!!!

[sylvania]

So if I'm reading this correctly, the House of Reps passed it, but it still has to go to the Senate. Is that right?

So now it's really important to write our Senators against it. Correct?

[mweldon]

There are a few minor steps in between, i.e. Judiciary Commitee, but yes... Senate is next...

WRITE'EM, CALL'EM, EMAIL'EM...

[mweldon]

bump....

[american.swan]

Yes everyone should contract their congressman about this.

[Sematary]

There is always the chance it could get killed in the judiciary committee so phoning the switchboard and asking for judiciary would be better at this point.

[Mortikhi]

Next election cycle I will be making sure everyone knows that our 'Representative' vote AYE for this monstroscity.

[FluffyUnbound]

I just wrote to both my Senators, but something tells me that Leahy and Sanders would oppose this legislation in any event. It's still good to let them know that the people are watching.

[zebov]

Guys, this was a bill to create a committee and university group to look into what causes terrorism. Yes, it's a waste of money, but no, our civil liberties are not at stake here. What we should be concerned with are the reports brought out by the committee established. Their recommendations are what will be of interest and what we should be concerned with, not the bill putting in act the investigation.

[mweldon]

Guys, this was a bill to create a committee and university group to look into what causes terrorism. Yes, it's a waste of money, but no, our civil liberties are not at stake here. What we should be concerned with are the reports brought out by the committee established. Their recommendations are what will be of interest and what we should be concerned with, not the bill putting in act the investigation.

You are correct, nevertheless, let them know we are watching at the early stages of anything that might rear its ugly head out of congress. For every letter or call they get, most equate that to between 100-1000 others who feel the same way but just don't speak out.

mw

[Ninja Homer]

Guys, this was a bill to create a committee and university group to look into what causes terrorism. Yes, it's a waste of money, but no, our civil liberties are not at stake here. What we should be concerned with are the reports brought out by the committee established. Their recommendations are what will be of interest and what we should be concerned with, not the bill putting in act the investigation.

I agree, but it's easy to see the direction they are heading with this.

[Thomas G.]

"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. "

Article at www.roguegovernment.com

"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."


Please we have to stop this in the senate!