S. 1959: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

Oh, goody! A bill to criminalize dissent!

We couldn’t see this coming!

Let’s wade in, shall we?

[A bill] To establish the National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism, and for other purposes.

Other purposes, huh?

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.

Because social change is bad?

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.

Social objectives? Like Universal Healthcare, Union Rights, and Equal Protection Under the Law?

The term `ideologically based violence’ means the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual’s political, religious, or social beliefs.

Boy, social beliefs, social objectives, social change…Are you sure this isn’t a McCarthy-style anti-socialist law?

(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.

Broad and constant streams of terrorist related propaganda? Like Daily Kos, or Countdown?

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.

Like concentration camps?

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.

‘Cause you never know who is going to be Teh Liberul!

`(h) Powers of Commission-
The Commission may, to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this section.

Like Blackwater?

(k) Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act- The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission.

Fair enough. What is the Federal Advisory Committee?

The Federal Advisory Committee Act was enacted in 1972 to ensure that advice by the various advisory committees formed over the years is objective and accessible to the public.

Doh!

So we’ve established the commission, what’s next?

`(a) Establishment-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall establish or designate a university-based Center of Excellence for the Study of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism in the United States (in this section referred to as the `Center’) using merit-review processes and procedures and other limitations established for designating university-based centers for homeland security under section 308(b)(2)(B).

university-based centers? Why they don’t just mention Regent University by name?

It shall be the purpose of the Center to study the social, criminal, political, psychological, and economic roots of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism in the United States and methods that can be used by homeland security officials of Federal, State, local, and tribal governments to mitigate violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism.

Every good prison system needs a HQ, no?

`(a) In General- In carrying out this subtitle, the Secretary shall ensure that the efforts of the Department to prevent ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism as described in this subtitle do not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, and civil liberties of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents.

So we’re going to trust the politically appointed Secretary to police themselves. Brilliant!

Maybe I’m just paranoid these days, but when:

• violent radicalization = social change
• homegrown terrorism = social objectives
• ideologically based violence = social beliefs

gets into a bill, I get a little worried.