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Is it a start or is it enough?

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WASHINGTON D.C. – Earlier this week, three Texas Congressmen, Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Michael McCaul (R-TX-10), and Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow federal law enforcement officers and prosecutors to better identify and charge those committing acts of domestic terrorism in the United States. H.R. 4178, the Domestic Terrorism Penalties Act of 2019, would replicate the penal code structure used to prosecute “International Terrorism” to establish penalties for crimes committed specifically under the definition of “Domestic Terrorism.” In turn, this bill will provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to charge acts of domestic terror and ensure these crimes are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

“Texas and our nation are still reeling from the devastating shootings of El Paso and Dayton. These crimes have further exposed deficiencies in federal criminal law, deficiencies that my district became all too familiar with following the tragic shooting at Santa Fe High School that left 10 people dead and 13 injured. These acts of domestic terrorism warrant a stronger response than the federal government can currently provide.

Unlike international terrorism which has penalties, domestic terrorism exists in federal law but lacks penalties. As a result, individuals who commit crimes that constitute an act of domestic terrorism must be charged under non-terrorism statutes. And, in some cases, the crimes committed by people the FBI describe as domestic terrorism suspects do not violate federal law. Thus, these individuals may never be federally charged as terrorists,” said Congressman Weber.

The Domestic Terrorism Penalties Act of 2019 is endorsed by the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA). The FBIAA is composed of 14,000 Special Agent members—including approximately 90 percent active Special Agents that have helped lead this effort to criminalize domestic terrorism at the federal level.

“FBIAA supports the Domestic Terrorism Penalties Act of 2019 because it would make domestic terrorism a federal crime, helping ensure that FBI Agents and prosecutors have the best tools to fight domestic terrorism.  Domestic terrorism is a threat to the American people and our democracy. Acts of violence intended to intimidate civilian populations or to influence or affect government policy should be prosecuted as domestic terrorism regardless of the ideology behind them,” said Brian O’Hare, President of the FBI Agents Association.

To read the text of the Domestic Terrorism Penalties Act,  go here: https://weber.house.gov/uploadedfiles/h.r._4187_domestic_terrorism_penalties_act_of_2019-weber-116th.pdf

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