Currently domestic terrorism is defined in the U.S. legal code but it is not codified as a law that can be prosecuted. SJL is introducing a bill that would enable prosecuting on domestic terrorism. Her current target are white nationalists.
To quote Lizzo, "it's about damn time". However, I'm expecting Republicans to defend white nationalists.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Introduces New Law To Prosecute White Supremacists: Here's What It Would Mean (msn.com)
The Leading Against White Supremacy Act, first introduced by Jackson Lee in 2022, is intended “to prevent and prosecute white supremacy inspired hate crime and conspiracy to commit white supremacy inspired hate crime.”
Aren't hate crimes already a thing?
Haven't they been a thing for decades?
The purpose of this is confusing, are they hatier hate? Are they crimier crimes?
It all seems redundant, but then you say none of it was real to begin with and it needs to be codified now....
That is confusing beyond reason, but I stand for making... terrorism... a... crime?
How the !@#$ is it not already?
/First Impression
Digging into the article further... it explicitly targets white supremacy. So this isn't about criminal activity at all. Rather, this makes it a crime to express white supremacy. To even think it. Yeah, that would be new. And not just supremacy but conspiracy theories and crazy ideas revolved around white supremacy? Calling out "replacement theory" as a criminal thought is... interesting. People can be hyped up on that shit and not be concerned about the color of people's skin, so much as all the other social changes and differences between two groups of people. If all of Russia fled into the US, that WOULD also cause one hell of a problem. Because immigration is not free, just ask the Native Americans.
You are crossing an authoritarian line in order to square off against a very real danger. Yet I do not believe drawing this line in the sand would achieve a positive outcome. It is too narrowly focused, and the root of our problem is human behavior. They are already set against you, wagging your finger, shouting loudly, and throwing some of them in prison for... being who they are.... this is just escalating civil strife. The proposed law is a civil solution to an uncivil problem. One that is rapidly growing beyond law and order.
Upon encountering white supremacy you all go "we have the law!"
And they go "we have the guns".
See how that ends, not with this law.
Is it an important step? Maybe... but I don't see it solving the problem, and it cross an authoritarian line. Do we need to escalate and puff up and tell them no more? Perhaps, but this may be the wrong way to do it if we wanted to grow our base and confront the real issue. That, even in victory, we may lose our Democracy. But if ending our Democracy, declaring war on half the country, if that be our goal... then yes, this is a fine first step to take. It may even be inevitable as they leave us no choice....
But I will ever caution those careening off a cliff, even if the bottom be our destination and you simply want to control the landing. Perhaps it is my own way of mourning the country we once thought we had. I do wonder, if not this, what would a better tactic or solution be? :hrrmm:..... I have no answer for you today, just these impressions and ramblings on the matter.