H.R. 3074 - Air Piracy Reprisal and Capture Act of 2001 (Introduced in the House)

thomas.gov ^ | 10/16/01 | Ron Paul

[Demidog]

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Air Piracy Reprisal and Capture Act of 2001 (Introduced in the House)

HR 3074 IH

107th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3074

To amend title 18, United States Code, and the Revised Statutes of the United States to provide punishment for, and to authorize the issuance of letters of marque and reprisal against acts of air piracy.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 10, 2001

Mr. PAUL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, and the Revised Statutes of the United States to provide punishment for, and to authorize the issuance of letters of marque and reprisal against acts of air piracy.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Air Piracy Reprisal and Capture Act of 2001'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) That the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 were acts of air piracy contrary to the law of nations.

(2) That the terrorist attacks were not just criminal actions, but belligerent attacks designed to destroy the sovereign independence of the United States of America contrary to the law of nations.

(3) That the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks were aided and abetted by enemy belligerents contrary to the law of nations.

(4) That similar acts of air piracy are planned for future execution by persons and organizations enjoying safe harbor by nations contrary to the law of nations.

(5) That the lives, liberties, and properties of the American people have been taken, and are threatened to be taken, by acts of air piracy contrary to the law of nations.

(6) That under Article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution, Congress has the power to define and punish piracies and other offenses against the laws of nations.

(7) That under Article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution, Congress has the powers to grant letters of marque and reprisal and to make rules concerning captures on land and water.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

(1) For the purpose of chapter 81, title 18, United States Code, the term `piracy as defined by the law of nations' means robbery on the high seas and in the air.

(2) For the purposes of chapter 81, title 18, United States Code, and chapter 7, title 33, United States Code, terms `vessel' includes `aircraft' and `port' include `airport'.

SEC. 4. PUNISHMENTS FOR PIRACY.

Chapter 81 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in section 1651--

(A) by inserting `or in the skies' after `on the high seas'; and

(B) by inserting `or if death results, may be sentenced to death' after `life';

(2) in section 1652--

(A) by inserting `or in the skies' after `on the high seas'; and

(B) by inserting `or, if death results may be sentenced to death' after `life';

(3) in section 1653--

(A) by inserting `on land, or in the sky' after `on the sea'; and

(B) by inserting `or, if death results may be sentenced to death' after `life';

(4) in section 1654--

(A) by inserting `or within' after `without';

(B) by inserting `or any individual aboard any such private vessel of war or privateer, whether it be a ship or aircraft' after `privateer';

(C) by striking `fined under this title or'; and

(D) by striking `not more than ten years or both.' and inserting `for life.';

(5) in section 1655--

(A) by inserting `or an airman, including steward, stewardess, pilot, copilot or other airplane officer' after `being a seaman';

(B) by inserting `, including the pilot or copilot of an aircraft' after `upon his commander';

(C) by inserting `or persons' after `or goods'; and

(D) by inserting `or if death results, may be sentenced to death' after `life';

(6) in section 1656--

(A) by inserting `or being a captain, pilot, or other officer or service member of an aircraft' after `the United States,';

(B) by inserting `or flies' after `runs'; and

(C) by inserting `or if death results, may be sentenced to death' after `fined under this title'; and

(7) in section 1657--

(A) by inserting `or captain, pilot, copilot or service member' after `mariner';

(B) by inserting `or fly' after `run';

(C) by inserting `or passenger' after `merchandise';

(D) by inserting `or in the skies' after `upon the seas' both places it appears;

(E) by inserting `or being an airman confines the pilot of any aircraft' after `of any vessel'; and

(F) before the dash by striking `three' and inserting `ten'.

SEC. 5. SUPPRESSION OF PIRACY.

(a) EXPANSION OF APPLICATION OF PIRACY LAWS- For purposes of sections 4293 through 4299b of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended by this Act, each of the terms `piratical aggressions and depredation' and `act of piracy' includes all such aggressions, depredations, and other such acts whether committed upon land or sea or in the air in relation to any ship or aircraft.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- The Revised Statutes of the United States are amended as follows:

(1) In section 4293 (33 U.S.C. 381)--

(A) by inserting `, including commercial aircraft,' after `merchant vessels'; and

(B) by inserting `, or of the citizens thereof,' after `the United States'.

(2) In section 4294 (33 U.S.C. 382), by inserting `or in the skies' immediately after `upon the high seas'.

(3) In section 4295 (33 U.S.C. 383)--

(A) by inserting `and lawful passengers' after `crew'; and

(B) by inserting `, including commercial aircraft,' after `merchant vessel'.

(4) In section 4298 (33 U.S.C. 386)--

(A) by striking `or the commanders of any other suitable vessels,' and inserting `or the commander or other leader of any other suitable entity operating under the authority of any letters of marque and reprisal granted by Congress'; and

(B) by inserting `, or, whether on the high seas, in the skies or on land, subdue, seize, and take persons and property, using such force as may be necessary to defend the lives, liberties, and property of the citizens of the United States against piratical aggressions and degradations, as authorized by any letter of marque and reprisal granted by Congress' after `that section'.

(c) TREATMENT OF PROPERTY AND PERSONS IDENTIFIED IN LETTER OF MARQUE AND REPRISAL- The Revised Statutes of the United States are further amended by inserting after section 4299 the following new sections:

`SEC. 4299a. Property identified as subject to seizure under a duly issued letter of marque and reprisal shall be deemed enemy property and subject to confiscation and forfeiture, and further, shall be deemed the property of the captors or of the United States in such proportions as provided for in the letter of marque and reprisal pursuant to which said property was seized.

`SEC. 4299b. Any person identified as subject to seizure under a duly issued letter of marque and reprisal shall be deemed an enemy belligerent of the United States and subject to court-martial jurisdiction thereof for punishment of any violation of the laws of nations, such person to be transferred into the custody of the United States as provided for in the letter of marque and reprisal pursuant to which such person was seized.'.

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[Demidog]

This is related to H.R. 3076 - September 11 Marque and Reprisal Act of 2001

Please read and give a freeper bump to your congressman and senators.

[Soul Citizen]

The Days of Piracy are once again numbered!

History repeats itself!

[Demidog]

I believe you are correct. Please notify your congressman you want this passed.

[sinkspur]

Waste of time.

My conservative Republican congressman, Joe Barton, thinks so too ("unnecessary and, frankly, dangerous")

[Siclops]

This post is another Example of the Ignorant leading the Ignorant. A.K.A The American Way. Read Our National Constitution as it is Written.

[harrowup]

Tell me, stinkspoor; does your conservative Republican Congressman, Joe Barton, know you use his name in public? Has he ever told you he is happy having a supporter whose most singular achievement is proving he doesn't like libertarians? You can tell me. I am the last of a dying breed, the classical liberal Democrat...we really do still feel sympathy for the mentally ill.

[Demidog]

This is about the 5th or 6th time you've spammed one of these threads with your "waste of time" nonsense.

Did you think I didn't read it the first time? Or is it that you know that lies need to be repeated often for them to have effect?

[sinkspur]

Has he ever told you he is happy having a supporter whose most singular achievement is proving he doesn't like libertarians?

He has told me he appreciates that I support him, a Republican.

[sinkspur]

This is about the 5th or 6th time you've spammed one of these threads with your "waste of time" nonsense.

Unless FR institutes a new rule which limits the number of times a member may comment on the same legislation, then I will continue to offer my opinion of the legislation.

Did you think I didn't read it the first time?

It appears you read it EVERY TIME. As I intended.

[harrowup]

You are the kind of Republican that makes it so easy for Democrats to ridicule. Your uncontrolled knee-jerks may be symptomatic of a serious neural disease.

[sinkspur]

You are the kind of Republican that makes it so easy for Democrats to ridicule. Your uncontrolled knee-jerks may be symptomatic of a serious neural disease.

And you're the kind of crazy old fool who thinks my kind of Republican gives a damn what Democrats think.

Democrats are an endangered species.

[Demidog]

So it's true. You enjoy repeating yourself or it's an affliction. Turrets?

[harrowup]

Democrats are an endangered species

Yes, that is why there are so many Republican Mayors. Try dealing with reality while you pontificate.