11/08/2007

Would Your Beliefs Brand You A ‘Homegrown’ Terrorist?

93% Of Congress Passes Bill That Targets Americans Critical Of Government Showing Both “Big Box” Parties Have Same Agenda...More Control, Less Freedom

Lancaster, PA: Congress passed a bill which would make certain political ideologies suspect, under the guise of preventing “homegrown terrorism”.

The Constitution Party, the largest and fastest-growing third party in the country,(Ballot-Access News) calls on liberty-minded Americans across the political spectrum to take issue with HR 1955, a bill which allows the government to call virtually any crime and any thought “radical” and consider it “terrorism”.

"The provisions of this bill should be causing the highest degree of alarm in our country. HR 1955 is, to date, one of the most damning to our constitutional rights. If this gets by the Senate, our freedom of expression will be obliterated”, warned Constitution Party National Committee Chairman Jim Clymer.

H.R. 1955, titled the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 allows the government to target Americans and actually calls “thought” crimes “homegrown terrorism”.

Part of the bill (Section 899A) employs extremely vague terminology (“violent radicalization”) to describe the promoting of any belief system that the government considers “extremist”.

The Constitution Party suggests that since the language in H.R. 1955 is so vague, the government can consider anything at odds with its agenda to be “radical” or “extremist”.

“Would those who advocated for a different governmental policy by calling into a radio talk show or setting up a website critical of government be considered criminals under H.R. 1955? Absolutely; the wording of the bill says it all”, Clymer noted, calling attention to the text of HR 1955 which says:

“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.

Would protests, marches, demonstrations, websites, and internet radio content calling for “political” or “social change” constitute a crime under the provisions of H.R. 1955?

H.R. 1955 says it is a crime 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”.

The Constitution Party cautions Americans not to allow their government to limit political dissent under the guise of curbing “terrorism”.

“Since this bill includes caveats about ‘internet streaming’, it’s apparent the motive is to limit discussion amongst those who use the new medium to make their voices heard…typically those most critical of the parties now running our country”, noted Clymer.

The Constitution Party points to the overwhelming bi-partisan approval of this bill with 93% of Congress voting in favor of its passage as proof both major parties have broken their oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. “H.R. 1955 is yet another blatant indication that both ‘Big Box’ parties have set us up and sold us out, once again”, Clymer added.

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