[MD] House Passes Thought Crime Prevention Bill

[MarshaV]

FYI - continued

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.