PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - An Oregon anti-terrorism bill would jail street-blocking protesters for at least 25 years in a thinly veiled effort to discourage anti-war demonstrations, critics say.
The bill has met strong opposition but lawmakers still expect a debate on the definition of terrorism and the value of free speech before a vote by the state senate judiciary committee, whose Chairman, Republican Senator John Minnis, wrote the proposed legislation.
Dubbed Senate Bill 742, it identifies a terrorist as a person who "plans or participates in an act that is intended, by at least one of its participants, to disrupt" business, transportation, schools, government, or free assembly.
[...] "Right now a group of people can get together and go downtown and block a freeway," Larson said. "You need a tool to deal with that."
[...] Legislators say the bill stands little chance of passage. "I just don't think this bill is ever going to get out of committee," said Democratic Senator Vicki Walker, one of four members on the six-person panel who have said they oppose the legislation.
it's Senatorial Terrorism, that's what it is
Oregon Law Would Jail War Protesters as Terrorists
Tags: big brother
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8 Responses:
You missed one of the best parts:
"The bill contains automatic sentences of 25 years to life for the crime of terrorism."
So, the way the bill is worded, if you go to a peaceful protest, and just one of the participants gets out of hand ("act that is intended, by at least one of its participants"), you could wind up in the slammer for life. Yeah.
Something tells me that even if this does become law, it'll be struck down as unconstitutional.
I wish I still had that much confidence in the Supreme Court.
I doubt it'd even make it as far as the US Supreme Court. The Oregon Supreme Court would probably nuke it instantly, although I haven't lived in Oregon for a few years so I am not totally up-to-date on the political climate there.
Let's not forget all that being called a terrorist implies. At the federal level, terrorists can now be "disappeared" (held indefinitely at military installations with no representation or contact with family), and certainly won't get a fair shake in the media... if the media ever find out. The plans for the second PATRIOT act also involved giving the feds the right to revoke citizenship of anyone committing terrorist acts. I'm awaare that this as just an oregon state issue, but I think we still need to be aware: the ante on the word "terrorist" has been upped to extremely serious levels.
Text of OR Senate Bill 742; pay special attention to Section 1, parts 1-4.
Home page & contact info for 742's sponsor, John Minnis (in case anyone wants to share their thoughts with him). I did.
My own post about this, which includes both of the above links as well as the excerpted Section 1 (if you want one-stop shopping convenience).
"Dubbed Senate Bill 742, it identifies a terrorist as a person who "plans or participates in an act that is intended, by at least one of its participants, to disrupt" business, transportation, schools, government, or free assembly."
I find it funny that this bill makes it illegal to disrupt freedom of assembly, and implements it by removing the freedom of assembly.
Huzzah for Canada once again.
i thought it was cute that when i clicked your name to see your livejournal, the first entry was titled "Canadian Government: inept at best" ;)
The worst they do is screw my taxes so far. Today was the third time I've had to request the correct tax forms for some RRSP (equiv to 401k, IIRC) carryforward for the latest tax year. :)