Lawmakers consider enacting statute to increase punishments for domestic terrorism

Conservative News DailyFebruary 5, 2021

File – Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., does a television interview on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. AP Photo/Susan Walsh)AP

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UPDATED 9:53 AM PT – Friday, February 5, 2021

Congressional lawmakers are floating the possibility of enacting a new statute that would increase punishments for people charged with domestic terrorism.

Republicans and some Democrat lawmakers have shown support for the move in light of last year’s violent Black Lives Matter protests as well as the demonstrations at the U.S. Capitol last month.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) has emerged as an early defender of the move.

“We can officially say on the 6th of January, we saw the cap, the end of those 20 years of the post 9/11 era,” she stated. “And now, instead of the greatest threat coming from abroad and foreign terrorist organizations, I think the single greatest threat to American security is the division between us.”

I’ve spent my career protecting the country from foreign threats. Now, that mission turns to those we face at home.

Proud to be named Chair of the Intel. & Counterterrorism Subcommittee, where it will be our mission to help protect Americans from the rise of terrorist violence. pic.twitter.com/r64b70ekQy

— Rep. Elissa Slotkin (@RepSlotkin) February 1, 2021

Lawmakers have also proposed setting up an independent commission to look into the incident at the Capitol Building specifically.

Meanwhile, some civil rights groups are opposing enacting the statute. Some believe it could be weaponized to attack activists and peaceful protesters.