Domestic Terrorism Essay Sample

There are two types of terrorism and those are domestic and international terrorism but how is domestic terrorism defined in America and what can be done to prevent it? Domestic terrorism occurs when it happens within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States if it doesn’t happen within then it is considered international terrorism. Terrorism activity is an ongoing issue in America and not just with international terrorism but as well with domestic. To prevent future domestic terrorism, the federal government should surveil citizens' emails, records, and personal information to protect the citizens and avoid casualties. However, this violates the first and fourth amendment that protects fundamental rights and liberties. But did you know that the federal government already did this, and it’s called the Patriot Act. 

After the 9/11 terrorist attack that took the lives of 3,000 Americans and international citizens, it led to changes in anti-terror approaches and operations in the United States. This lead to the Patriot Act which was passed on October 26, 2001, which the government saw as critical prevention from another terrorist attack. The Patriot Act is to improve counter-terrorism efforts in several significant ways, which per the Department of Justice website is the following:

1. The Patriot Act allows investigators to use the tools that were already available to investigate organized crime and drug trafficking. 
   1. Allows law enforcement to use surveillance against more crimes of terror.
   2. Allows federal agents to follow sophisticated terrorists trained to evade detection.
   3. Allows law enforcement to conduct investigations without tipping off terrorists.
   4. Allows federal agents to ask a court for an order to obtain business records in national security terrorism cases. (18 U.S.C. § 2510)
2. The Patriot Act facilitated information sharing and cooperation among government agencies so that they can better “connect the dots.” (50 U.S.C. § 403-5d)
3. The Patriot Act updated the law to reflect new technologies and new threats.
   1. Allows law enforcement officials to obtain a search warrant anywhere a terrorist-related activity occurred.
   2. Allows victims of computer hacking to request law enforcement assistance in monitoring the “trespassers” on their computers.
4. The Patriot Act increased the penalties for those who commit terrorist crimes.
   1. Prohibits the harboring of terrorists.
   2. Enhanced the inadequate maximum penalties for various crimes likely to be committed by terrorists.
   3. Enhanced several conspiracy penalties.
   4. Punishes terrorist attacks on mass transit systems.
   5. Punishes bioterrorists.
   6. Eliminates the statutes of limitations for certain terrorism crimes and lengthens them for other terrorist crimes.

The information above is a brief explanation of what the Patriot Act permits and increases the government's power to lawfully access the records of citizens without notifying the person or people involved. However, what if the government worked on improving and referencing this act to create a more modern act. It would be beneficial to America to have an Act in place that will keep citizens protected from domestic terrorism and a clear line as to what falls into the domestic terrorism category. Currently, domestic terrorism falls in a gray area between international and non-terrorism criminal offenses, and because of this federal law prohibits very specific activities. Since the federal law is limited to those special activities there isn’t any distinguishment between international terrorists from modern terrorist tactics. 

 For example, Japan started addressing domestic extremism in 1952 with the Subversive Activities Prevention Act. With this act, the Public Security Intelligence Agency was formed and tasked to monitor left-wing extremist groups and after the 9/11 attacks, they adopted the Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism. Over the years terrorism has evolved and now there are different forms of terrorism and that is one thing Japan has in mind. Japan is constantly reviewing the terrorism prevention measures to be able to cover different forms of terrorism and provide no loopholes for a terrorist to take advantage of. 

Here in America, there isn’t a specific crime for domestic terrorism it could be an offense that falls into the statutory of 18 U.S.C. 2331. There was a case in 2018 where four members of the Rise Above Movement were involved in violence at several political protests, including Charlottesville's “Unite the Right.” The FBI arrested these members for their involvement in assaulting an African American and two females and was charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the federal riots statute and one count of violating the statute. Even though the Rise Above Movement was heavily involved in violence at the political protest they were not charged with terrorism. The same goes for the Las Vegas shooting, when 64-year-old Stephan Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of his hotel room, killing 58 people and injuring more than 800, he caused all of this in a matter of 10 minutes. As information started circulating different news stations and social media he was described as a gambler, grandad, former accountant, a lone wolf, but a terrorist was not one of them. This was one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern history, yet his actions were not considered those of domestic terrorism.