"This article by Dan Scott can be found at:
http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2008/01/62635.php "The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act."
S.1959 if passed, will create a powerful "government commission" that will "research, investigate and recommend in "reports" to the U.S. Government" how to prevent and preempt violence in America. Different cultures shall be investigated and studied by the "Commission." The "Commission" will determine which Americans, organizations and cultures are "Idealistically based toward Violence"; "Violent Radicalization" and "Homegrown Terrorism." The "Commission" will report on U.S. Citizens and groups that "could be thinking" about using terrorism. No doubt S.1959 will create an army of government informants.
It is foreseeable Government could use S.1959 "Commission Reports" to show that an individual or organization’s members were "idealistically based toward Violence" or supported Violent Radicalization as a reason to deny a Citizen their right to own a Firearm.
In the name of National Security—government can allege their "New Government Commission" has identified Citizens and organization members’ that should be prohibited from owning guns because they are "idealistically based toward Violence and "could" support "Violent Radicalization or Home Grown Terrorism." No doubt the "S.1959 Commission" will provide government with a large list of U.S. Citizens and immigrants. Government has called lawful anti war protestors potential terrorists and a threat to National Security.
S.1959 "The "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act" when closely examined, vaguely defines "homegrown terrorism" as "any planned act" that could use force to coerce the U.S. Government or its people to promote or accomplish a "political or social objective." Actual force need not occur. Government need only allege that an individual or someone in a group thought about or mentioned using force.
Under the vague provisions of S.1959 labor demonstrators could be reported by the "Commission" to the Government for using "coercion" if demonstrators blocked or intimidate shoppers from entering a store. Should violence happen at an anti war or labor demonstration, lawful participants could be "reported" for supporting "Violent Radicalization."
S.1959 does not provide sufficient public oversight to ensure the "Commission" does not target innocent U.S. Citizens and organizations because they supported a lawful cause opposed by the U.S. Government. The vague word "facilitate" in S.1959 could be used by Government to add thousands of U.S. Citizens and activist organizations to no fly and other government watch lists: perhaps subsequently to no train lists and other forms of domestic transportation.
Joining or contributing money to an organization "reported" by the "new S.1959 Commission" as being ideologically based toward violence could get a lawful Citizen on a corporate or government no hire list.
After S.1959 is passed, it would appear unlikely in the short term—elected U.S. Representatives would want to risk his or her political career defending innocent Americans and organizations accused by the "commission" of being "Idealistically based toward Violence"; "Violent Radicalization"; or Homegrown Terrorism."
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