If you are a journalist, writer, artist, or just a free thinker, there is news on the Senate floor that can and will affect you. S. 1959 can affect us all. Sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), this bill has already passed the House. Introduced August 2, 2007, this bill was originally called HR 1955, introduced 4/19/2007, Sponsored by Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA-36), with 14 Cosponsors. It was passed by the House in an unprecedented 404/6 vote on 10/23/07 at 5:06 pm (Roll no 993) (text: CR H11854-11857).

This Bill was Introduced on 4/19/2007, “to prevent homegrown terrorism, and for other purposes” and was passed onto the Senate on 10/24/07. This adds an Amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, allowing the Government to label people in the United States as terrorists. Anyone born, raised, or based and operating in the United States is susceptible to this law if passed by the Senate.

Once again, the Government is at it. This is a blatant and violent attack upon our civil liberties as Americans in America. There is such a thing as the Constitution of the United States. The 1st Amendment is one of the strongest and greatest parts of the Constitution for all who are Americans or for those who are wishing to become Americans; to be able to freely speak and have a religious preference without the fear of being prosecuted. For those who may not know the 1st Amendment, here is a recap:

Amendment 1 (1791) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press: or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.

The Constitution also states very clearly, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

This new bill that could become a law violates the 1st Amendment of the Constitution due to its statements. In Section 889A of the bill it states:

“(1) Commission.—The term ‘Commission’ means the National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism established under section 899C.

“(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.

“(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.

“(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.

In Section 899B of this bill you will find these statements, which include the Internet:

(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.

(6) The potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated terrorists domestically cannot be easily prevented through traditional Federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts, and requires the incorporation of State and local solutions.

(7) Individuals prone to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence span all races, ethnicities, and religious beliefs, and individuals should not be targeted based solely on race, ethnicity, or religion.

Yet in the same breath of the bill, it states that it will defend and protect our Civil Liberties.

SEC. 899F. PROTECTING CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES WHILE PREVENTING IDEOLOGICALLY-BASED VIOLENCE AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM.

(a) In General- The Department of Homeland Security's efforts to prevent ideologically-based violence and homegrown terrorism as described herein shall not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, and civil liberties of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents.

How is it possible to protect our Civil Liberties when it is evidently clear that they will be taken away for simply thinking or speaking what our Forefathers granted us with the Constitution? Would they be rolling over in their graves knowing this was probably going to be passed by the Senate without the American population knowing?
No one wants terrorism to continue, but this is one step over the line when the Government can have the right to label anyone as a Terrorist, simply because the wording of the bill is so vague. If you are against the war, does that mean you are a terrorist? If you speak against the Government, will you be labeled a terrorist? If you are standing up peaceably for your rights, will you be labeled a terrorist? I am sure you can see where this can go.

When is enough, enough? The Patriot Act was passed without question, the Military Commissions Act, now this. Take this time now to call the Senators of your state and tell them NO on bill S. 1959 or you may end up in jail or worse if this passes. Our freedoms will be stripped; our basic freedoms granted by the Constitution of the United States, granted to us because we are Americans. Do not let them take your freedom of Speech or Religious beliefs away.

The phone numbers for the U.S. Senate switchboard:
1-877-851-6437
1-800-833-6354
1-888-355-3588
1-866-220-0044
1-866-808-0065
1-877-762-8762
1-866-340-9281
1-800-862-5530

Please, it cannot be reiterated enough: call, write, or fax your Senators if you are against this Bill passing to a law, before it is a law that will not allow you to do so.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR01955:@@@L&summ2=m&
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s110-1959
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:4:./temp/~c110AslZDN
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c110:4:./temp/~c110AslZDN:e1080:
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc110/h1955_rfs.xml

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