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H.R. 1955: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 has passed the house and is headed to the senate.

I have included the summary description below for more understanding, but generally it amends the Homeland Security Act to include “homegrown terrorism”.

If enacted, the department of homeland security would establish permanent institutions on University campuses to study homegrown terrorism. They would also investigate anyone whom has an “extreme view” or “ideologically opposes the government”.

Ron Paul on HR1955: “This legislation focuses the weight of the US government inward toward its own citizens under the guise of protecting us against “violent radicalization…….There are many causes for concern in HR 1955. The legislation specifically singles out the Internet for “facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process” in the United States. Such language may well be the first step toward US government regulation of what we are allowed to access on the Internet. Are we, for our own good, to be subjected to the kind of governmental control of the Internet that we see in unfree societies? This bill certainly sets us on that course.”

Dennis Kucinich on HR1955:

“If you understand what his bill does, it really sets the stage for further criminalization of protest. This is the way our democracy little, by little, by little, is being stripped away from us. This bill, I believe, is a clear violation of the first amendment.”

This bill leaves a lot of open questions: In certain cases could Iraq war protesters be considered ideologically opposed to the government? Are protesters, muckrakers, minorities grouped in with homegrown terrorism?

SUMMARY: Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to add provisions concerning the prevention of homegrown terrorism (terrorism by individuals born, raised, or based and operating primarily in the United States).
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) establish a grant program to prevent radicalization (use of an extremist belief system for facilitating ideologically-based violence) and homegrown terrorism in the United States; (2) establish or designate a university-based Center of Excellence for the Study of Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism in the United States; and (3) conduct a survey of methodologies implemented by foreign nations to prevent radicalization and homegrown terrorism.
Prohibits the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to prevent ideologically-based violence and homegrown terrorism from violating the constitutional and civil rights, and civil liberties, of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.”

Here is Amy Goodman on DemocracyNow discussing the bill