The National Archives reports that former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), a former Democratic presidential candidate, has expressed concern about proposed legislation in the House of Representatives to curb domestic terrorism. She warned that the vagueness of the measure could be used to weaken civil liberties.
Gabbard’s concern lies in how politicians define the “characteristics” that define a potential threat, saying the proposed legislation constitutes “a very dangerous undermining of our civil liberties, our constitutional freedoms, and targeting almost half the country.”
The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2021 was introduced in the House last week after mostly peaceful protests at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. “Unlike the aftermath of 9/11, the resurgent threat on Jan. 6 came from domestic terrorist groups and extremists, often violent and racially motivated,” Rep. Brad Schneider (D-N.Y.) said in announcing the legislation.
Schneider said, “Combating the threat of domestic terrorism and white supremacy is not a Democratic or Republican issue, not a left versus right or urban versus rural issue. Domestic terrorism is an American issue, a serious threat that we can and must address together.”
But Gabbard cuts through the fog of Schneider’s rhetoric, noting that if the measure is signed into law, American civil liberties would face a huge threat, a foreseeable prospect given the one-party rule the Democrats currently have over the government.
“As we build this profile of potential extremists, what characteristics are we looking for, what are we talking about? Religious extremists, we’re talking about Christians, evangelical Christians, what is a religious extremist? Is it an anti-abortionist? Where are you taking this?” Gabbard asked.
“This is an issue that all Democrats, Republicans, independents, liberals should be extremely concerned about, especially since we don’t have to guess where this is going and where it’s going to end.” Gabbard said.
The former congresswoman cited discussions that have taken place between John Brennan, the current CIA director under Obama, and members of the proposed and confirmed President Biden‘s cabinet. “When you have people like former CIA Director John Brennan talking publicly about how he talked to or listened to appointees and nominees in the Biden Administration, they have begun to look for these types of movements around our country, similar to the insurgencies that they see overseas, in his words, that he said make up this unholy alliance, and he lists some others, at the end, even liberals,” Gabbard said.
Gabbard believes the so-called bipartisan legislation would use criteria that include race, gender and political leanings. “You start to focus, obviously, on having to be a white, obviously likely male, liberal, anyone who loves freedom, maybe has an American flag outside their house, or those who have attended Trump rallies.” Gabbard said.
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