Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr - Weak on Terror

Cross-posted at the Brock Log.

Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr. is weak on terrorism. In 1996, legislation was proposed by Senator Robert Dole (S Bill 735 - Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act of 1995) and Congressman Henry Hyde (HR 2703 – The Comprehensive Antiterrorism Act of 1995). Congressman Jones voted “NO” on both of these measures.

These pieces of legislation would have provided many of the protections that would have provided additional defense from terrorist attacks within the United States and may have made the attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. in September of 2001 impossible.

According to Project Vote-Smart, the following are key points from S Bill 735:

- Sets penalties for conspiring to kill, kidnap, or maim persons of either the U.S. or a foreign government

- Increases penalties for using explosives or committing arson, including establishing and increasing previous mandatory minimums of penalties and mandating imprisonment for certain terrorist crimes

- Prohibits the U.S. from providing assistance to the government of countries that aid terrorist states

- Amends the Fair Credit Report Act to authorize a court judge to issue an order ex parte directing a consumer reporting agency (CRA) to furnish to the FBI the names and addresses of all financial institutions at which a consumer maintains or has maintained an account to the extent that the information is in the CRA's files

- Prohibits any person within the U.S. from fundraising or collecting funds on behalf of an organization or person designated by the Secretary of State as a terrorist

- Affirms that being a member of a foreign terrorist organization is a legal basis for exclusion from the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act

- Declares that a Federal, State, or local government agency may not use a voter registration card or other related document that evidences registration for an election, as proof of United States citizenship

- Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for teaching or demonstrating the making of explosive materials, or distributing information pertaining to the manufacturing of such material

- Expands the weapons of mass destruction statute to set penalties with respect to any U.S. national who uses, threatens, attempts, or conspires to use a weapon of mass destruction outside of the U.S.

The protections that would have been available after that legislation became law would have been robust, yet, Congressman Jones, Jr. voted against both measures.

It’s time to hold Mr. Jones, Jr. accountable for his votes. Look at Craig Weber. As a former Marine, he’s strong for national defense and will work hard to ensure America is the safest nation in the world.