Coot
02-20-2004, 04:41 PM
PROVIDENCE -- Gov. Donald L. Carcieri's proposed anti-terrorism legislation, which caused civil liberties advocates to go ballistic when it was proposed last week, is headed back to the drawing board.
Among the parts of the existing legislation that caused a stir when reported as new by one media organization this week were provisions that said: "Any person who shall willfully teach or advocate anarchy or the overthrow by force or violence of the government of the state of Rhode Island or of the United States ..or opposition to organized government, or any person who shall willfully become a member of or affiliated with any organization teaching and advocating disbelief in or opposition to organized government ..shall be punished with a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or both."
Carcieri had proposed adding language assessing the same penalties to destroying government property or "facilities essential to the public safety, health and welfare of the state including but not limited to power, water and wastewater treatment facilities."
Another provision that raised eyebrows said: "Any person who shall willfully speak, utter, print, write or publish any language intended to incite, provoke or encourage forceful resistance to the state of Rhode Island or the United States of America or a defiance or disregard of the constitution or laws of Rhode Island or shall advocate any change, alteration or modification in the form of government ..shall be guilty of a felony and punished with 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both." The administration's draft added the words "or advocates an act or acts of terrorism" to that language.
Those two provisions were added to Rhode Island law in 1919, in response to controversies touched off by World War I.
First Ammendment rights? It would seem that Rhode Island hasn't had any since 1919. Holy Shit!! Story Here. (http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10998772&BRD=1712&PAG=461&dept_id=478996&rfi=6)
Among the parts of the existing legislation that caused a stir when reported as new by one media organization this week were provisions that said: "Any person who shall willfully teach or advocate anarchy or the overthrow by force or violence of the government of the state of Rhode Island or of the United States ..or opposition to organized government, or any person who shall willfully become a member of or affiliated with any organization teaching and advocating disbelief in or opposition to organized government ..shall be punished with a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or both."
Carcieri had proposed adding language assessing the same penalties to destroying government property or "facilities essential to the public safety, health and welfare of the state including but not limited to power, water and wastewater treatment facilities."
Another provision that raised eyebrows said: "Any person who shall willfully speak, utter, print, write or publish any language intended to incite, provoke or encourage forceful resistance to the state of Rhode Island or the United States of America or a defiance or disregard of the constitution or laws of Rhode Island or shall advocate any change, alteration or modification in the form of government ..shall be guilty of a felony and punished with 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both." The administration's draft added the words "or advocates an act or acts of terrorism" to that language.
Those two provisions were added to Rhode Island law in 1919, in response to controversies touched off by World War I.
First Ammendment rights? It would seem that Rhode Island hasn't had any since 1919. Holy Shit!! Story Here. (http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10998772&BRD=1712&PAG=461&dept_id=478996&rfi=6)