Senator Feinstein Urges Department of Justice to Aggressively Enforce Bombmaking Statute

feinstein.senate.gov ^ | September 3, 2003 | unknown

[GirlyGirl2003]

(Sherman Austin was placed in jail for linking his website to one that has information on it about making explosives)

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has called upon the Department of Justice to aggressively enforce a law that makes it illegal to distribute bombmaking information with the knowledge or intent that the information will be used to commit a violent federal crime.

This statute, which was established through legislation sponsored by Senator Feinstein in 1997, was recently applied for the first time in a case against Sherman Austin, an anarchist who put links to bombmaking information on his website. Austin, who is scheduled to surrender to U.S. Marshals tomorrow, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, a $2000 fine, three years of probation, as well as other restrictions.

In this case, according to press reports, the federal prosecutor reached two separate plea agreements with Austin, but the presiding judge threw out the initial pleas, saying that they were insufficient and that the government was not taking the crime "seriously" enough.

In a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft, Senator Feinstein wrote: "I was pleased to learn recently that Sherman Austin was sentenced earlier this month in federal court in Los Angeles for violating 18 U.S.C. 842(p), a law I authored mandating up to 20 years in prison for anyone who distributes bombmaking information knowing or intending that the information will be used for a violent federal crime. However, I remain concerned by reports that federal prosecutors may not be taking this important anti-terrorism tool seriously. Thus, I write to request your assistance in ensuring that DOJ personnel know about section 842(p) and are aggressively enforcing it.

[GirlyGirl2003]

Whether or not you approve of leftist radical Diane Feinstein (D), you have to consider this new law 842(p), and whether or not it is an attack on the first amendment guarantee of fredom of the press and freedom of speech. ---

[joesnuffy]

wonder how many re-loading enthusists will be targeted..sounds like another Patriot Act to misuse

[Ford Fairlane]

Does this mean its now illegal to sell copies of "The Anarchist's Cookbook" or "The Poor Man's James Bond"?

There are hundereds of places on the internet that sell them as well as a couple of dealers at any gun show, and a lot of sporting goods / surplus stores

[joesnuffy]

wonder how many re-loading enthusists will be targeted..sounds like another Patriot Act to misuse

[supercat]

Does this statute apply to firebomb instructions as well? If so, perhaps the feds should check out www.earthl*b*r*t**nfr*nt.com for some nice detailed instructions about how to destroy buildings.

[Orangedog]

Whether or not you approve of leftist radical Diane Feinstein (D), you have to consider this new law 842(p), and whether or not it is an attack on the first amendment guarantee of fredom of the press and freedom of speech. ---

Brought to you by the GOP controlled House and Senate.

[BenLurkin]

What are these big government socialists afraid of? Do they think average Americans will take it upon themselves to take action against the encrochments on our liberties?

One thing is for sure: the terrorists already know whatever they need to know about making these ...

[Tench_Coxe]

Actually, its easier. Apply as a cook at their favorite eating establishment, then disappear.

[South40]

Senator Feinstein Urges Department of Justice to Aggressively Enforce Bombmaking Statute

And what will Alec Baldwin do for work if he can't make bombs?

[Copernicus]

Posted to *bang_list

[Mulder]

I don't want to hear a freaking thing about prosecuting people for publishing "how to manuals" on bombs until the Butchers of Waco are fully prosecuted under the extent of the law.

[MHGinTN]

Good point! What doddering dolt, Feinswein, out to demand of Ashcroft is that the U.S. Justice dept. bring litigation against the Davis scam of granting valid licenses to illegal aliens ... you're a terrorist and need an ID for buzzing about the U.S.? Go to Liberalfornia and get a license. It must be respected in all fifty states, right? It proves that democrats don't give a damn about this nation's safety as long as something can get more votes for the ratcrap party.

[SSN558]

Does this mean its now illegal to sell copies of "The Anarchist's Cookbook" or "The Poor Man's James Bond"?

You have to show intent and most of these include disclaimers for educational purposes only. Now if you write an article critical of Feinswein and link it to bomb making recipes, then she will write a letter to Justice with thinnly veiled threats of budget cuts. That how it works.

[GirlyGirl2003]

Since when did instructions on how to destruy anything become illegal to write, own, or publish?

[GirlyGirl2003]

The feds are obviously working to limit the first amendment.

[Orangedog]

That happened when the GOP sold it's sole for the soccer mom vote.