LEGISLATION TO WATCH!

Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

I don't know how many people are aware of this bill that is quietly making its way through Congress. It has already passed through the House with only 6 dissenting votes and is on its way to the Senate.

The terms used in this bill are as follows:

1. Violent radicalization - the process of adopting or promoting and extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious or social change.

2. Homegrown Terrorism - 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.

3. Ideologically Based Violence - 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.

I am sure many of you can see what the passage of this bill could mean for the work that you do. It is a very dangerous assault on free speech and dissent. An anti-war/peace demonstration could easily be seen as coercion ar force.

This bill sets into place the establishment of a committee much like the HUAC (House on Unamerican Activities Committee) of the 1950's.

This bill has received no attention in the media. Unless pressure is brought bear on the Senate it will likely quietly pass through there. I am sure that with elections on Thier minds the members of congress are afraid to pass a bill that might make them look soft on terrorism. But this bill goes way beyond combatting terrorism. It could easily inhibit political dissent, environmental activism and academic freedom.

If you would like more information, please feel free to contact Dan O'Keefe at: alley-dog-central@peoplepc.com