...I'm okay with being REALITY-based.




Tuesday, March 25, 2003
      ( 10:28 AM )
 
You Callin' ME a Terrorist?

I quote:

A tough anti-terrorism bill that has ruffled feathers
from human rights activists to police departments
comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday.

This is how one of our local news outlets frames their story of this bill that is before the Oregon Legislature. To say that this bill has "ruffled feathers" may be somewhat of an understatment, but that's the news media for you -- this is the same outlet that last night throughout their entire broadcast kept previewing the story with this teaser: pictures of protesters walking in a march and one of the broadcasters saying "are these people terrorists?" For those of you that haven't heard yet, here's what our Legislature is actually going to have a hearing on:

A person commits the crime of terrorism if
the person knowingly plans, participates in or
carries out any act that is intended, by at
least one of its participants, to disrupt:

(a) The free and orderly assembly of the inhabitants
of the State of Oregon;
(b) Commerce or the transportation systems of the
State of Oregon; or
(c) The educational or governmental institutions of
the State of Oregon or its inhabitants.

(2) A person commits the crime of terrorism
if the person conspires to do any of the activities
described in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) A person may not be convicted of terrorism
except upon the testimony of two witnesses to
the same overt act or upon confession in open court.

(4)(a) A person convicted of terrorism shall be
punished by imprisonment for life.
(b) When a person is convicted of terrorism
under this section, the court shall order that
the person be confined for a minimum of 25
years without possibility of parole, release
to post-prison supervision, release on work
release or any form of temporary leave or
employment at a forest or work camp.

Sen. John Minnis, R-Gresham, who sponsored the bill, said on tv last night when asked his response to the calls that his bill was unconstitutional, said "it may need a little tweaking."




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