The Center for Constitutional Rights Fact Sheet on the "Thought Crime" law...

[Junkdrawer]

Factsheet: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007
This act claims to set up a Commission for a study that will “examine and report upon the facts and causes” of so called violent radicalism and extremist ideology then make legislative recommendations on combating it.

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CURRENT STATUS

Already passed by the House with a vote of 404-6 on October 23rd. It is possible that the bill will be referred out of Committee next Wednesday and brought to the Senate floor.

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NOTEWORTHY POINTS

“SEC. 899A (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.”

What is an extremist belief system? term is left undefined and open to many interpretations, socialism, anarchism, communism, nationalism, liberalism, etc. that would serve to undermine expressions that don’t fit within the allowable areas of debate. A direct action led by any group that blocks traffic can be looked upon as being coercive.

“SEC. 899B. (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.”

The focus on the internet is crucial, it can set up far more intrusive surveillance techniques, without warrants, and the potential to criminalize ideas and not actions can mean penalties for your stance rather than any criminal act.

“SEC. 899A. (4) IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE- 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.”

What is force, is civil disobedience covered under that, if arrested at a protest rally and charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental administration, or even assault does that now open you up to possible terrorist charges in the future?

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RAND CORPORATION INFLUENCE

Brian Michael Jenkins, Rand Corporation’s so-called Counterterrorism expert, testified on the Violent Radicalism hearings.

Jenkins is credited by Rand in the 1960s, of focusing in on the insurgencies in Vietnam and Cambodia, on Vietnamese military institutions, and on the styles and techniques of conflict. Drawing parallels between the rise of urbanization in the war in Vietnam and trends taking place in other parts of Asia and Latin America. The theory of guerrilla warfare as a strictly rural activity was being challenged as the guerrillas were taking their struggles to the cities. Jenkins outlined a five-stage process by which urban guerrillas could take over a city, he was able to make recommendations for government countermeasures. In his book on terrorism Jenkins says “In their international campaign, the jihadists will seek common grounds with leftist, anti-American, and anti-globalization forces, who will in turn see, in radical Islam, comrades against a mutual foe.”

Also of note a Rand study Trends in Terrorism" Chapter 4 on homegrown terrorism – advocated special attention to environmentalist, Anti-globalization activist and anarchists as potentially new terrorist in the making.


http://ccrjustice.org/learn-more/faqs/factsheet%3A-violent-radicalization-and-homegrown-terrorism-prevention-act-2007

In short, questionable people taking us down an even more questionable road.